title: Binasal visual field defects are not specific to vigabatrin.
abstract: This study investigated the visual defects associated with the antiepileptic drug vigabatrin (VGB). Two hundred four people with epilepsy were grouped on the basis of antiepileptic drug therapy (current, previous, or no exposure to VGB). Groups were matched with respect to age, gender, and seizure frequency. All patients underwent objective assessment of electrophysiological function (wide-field multifocal electroretinography) and conventional visual field testing (static perimetry). Bilateral visual field constriction was observed in 59% of patients currently taking VGB, 43% of patients who previously took VGB, and 24% of patients with no exposure to VGB. Assessment of retinal function revealed abnormal responses in 48% of current VGB users and 22% of prior VGB users, but in none of the patients without previous exposure to VGB. Bilateral visual field abnormalities are common in the treated epilepsy population, irrespective of drug history. Assessment by conventional static perimetry may neither be sufficiently sensitive nor specific to reliably identify retinal toxicity associated with VGB.
authors.affiliation: Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Sills
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: Gordon N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin