title: The value of two-field pattern electroretinogram in routine clinical electrophysiologic practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical use of the large-field pattern electroretinogram (PERG) as an adjunct test to the International-standard PERG in an unselected sequential cohort of patients referred for routine electrophysiologic assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pattern electroretinograms to both 15° × 11° (International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision Standard) and 30° × 22° (large field) checkerboard field sizes were recorded in 277 consecutive electrophysiology patients, aged 10-79 years. Most patients had additional tests including full-field electroretinogram, electrooculogram, multifocal electroretinograms, or cortical visual evoked potential. Patient data were compared with data from 27 control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory 2-field PERG data were obtained in 91% (N = 253) of patients; data from 24 patients (9%) were excluded because of poor compliance (n = 17) or nystagmus (n = 7). Standard PERGs were consistent with macular dysfunction in 44% of cases; large-field PERG revealed macular dysfunction in an additional 8% of eyes and helped to distinguish between localized central, predominantly paracentral, and widespread macular dysfunction. The results were consistent with multifocal electroretinogram and/or imaging studies on the same patients. In some patients with optic nerve disease, the large-field PERG provided clearer evidence of normal macular function than the standard PERG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine use of the large-field PERG is a valuable complement to standard-field PERG testing in the evaluation and management of patients with different forms of macular or generalized retinal dysfunction and can be useful in patients with optic nerve disease.
authors: Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Lenassi
authors: Anthony G
authors: AG
authors: Robson
authors: Marko
authors: M
authors: Hawlina
authors: Graham E
authors: GE
authors: Holder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult