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VEP and PERG in patients with multiple sclerosis, with and without a history of optic neuritis

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Abstract

Purpose

Visual electrophysiology is routinely used to detect the visual complications of multiple sclerosis, but the analysis mostly focuses on visual evoked potential (VEP) and especially the P100 component. Our goal was to analyze the components and waveform alterations of VEPs and pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with good vision.

Methods

The main VEP and PERG components of 85 patients with MS were analyzed in two groups: 38 patients who had optic neuritis in their history (ON group) and 47 patients who had never had optic neuritis (MS group). The results were compared against a control group of 47 healthy subjects.

Results

Both VEP and PERG alterations occurred in a greater number of patients than expected, and these alterations were not necessarily linked to ON in the history or a deterioration of visual acuity.

Conclusions

Both VEP and PERG can detect dysfunction in the visual system in MS, even if the patient has no subjective symptoms. Even if PERG is not routinely used in neuro-ophthalmology, the results suggest that PERG assessment may provide useful information describing the retinal defect in MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 10-11, Szeged, 6720, Hungary

    M. Janáky & Á. Jánossy

  2. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10, Szeged, 6720, Hungary

    G. Horváth & G. Benedek

  3. Laboratory for Perception & Cognition and Clinical Neuroscience, Nyírő Gyula Hospital, Lehel utca 59, Budapest, 1135, Hungary

    G. Braunitzer

Authors
  1. M. Janáky
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  2. Á. Jánossy
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  3. G. Horváth
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  4. G. Benedek
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  5. G. Braunitzer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Braunitzer.

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All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Statement of human rights

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Statement on the welfare of animals

This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Janáky, M., Jánossy, Á., Horváth, G. et al. VEP and PERG in patients with multiple sclerosis, with and without a history of optic neuritis. Doc Ophthalmol 134, 185–193 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-017-9589-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-017-9589-7

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