title: Electrophysiological changes in lipaemia retinalis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the electrophysiologic findings in a patient with lipaemia retinalis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 11-year-old girl with diabetes had hyperlipidemia and presented for ophthalmologic consultation. Fundus examinations revealed milky discoloration of retinal vessels in both eyes. Laboratory testing disclosed hyperglycemia and markedly elevated level of triglycerides and cholesterol. Although the visual acuity was not affected, the electroretinograms showed decrease amplitudes of a- and b-wave in both cone and rod responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After correction of blood sugar and lipids with insulin and diet control, the lipaemia retinalis resolved, and the impaired ERG response reversed within 1 week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipaemia retinalis usually resolves rapidly without visual impairment after correction of hyperlipidemia. The reversible deficits of electroretinogram response in lipaemia retinalis are reported for the first time. High level of triglycerides or cholesterol or both may impair retinal function. The mechanism of an impaired electroretinogram remained speculative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, #201 Section 2 Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dau-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Fenq-Lih
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D004035:Diet Therapy; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000502:physiology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol