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Test–retest reliability of the multifocal electroretinogram and Humphrey visual fields in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

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Abstract

We examined the reliability of Humphrey visual field thresholds and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) amplitudes and timing in a group of patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Eight patients with RP and seven control subjects were tested five times: at baseline (visit #0), at three weekly follow-up visits (visits #1 – #3), and at three months (visit #4). For the Humphrey thresholds, differences between dB values on repeat visits were obtained. Differences between log values on repeat visits were calculated for mfERG amplitude and implicit time. We used the standard deviations of these difference scores as a measure of reliability and the means of the difference scores as a measure of progression. We found that the majority of the patients’ repeat data were more variable than that of the control subjects for both the Humphrey and mfERG. We found no single factor that predicted the magnitude, or the variance, of the SD of differences scores for the patients. We recommend that each patient’s reliability be assessed individually. Ultimately, the choice of an outcome measure must be guided by its reliability, as well as its ability to assess the visual function of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, NB-5N15, 550 First Ave, New York, NY, 10016

    William Seiple, Colleen J. Clemens, Vivienne C. Greenstein, Ronald E. Carr & Karen Holopigian

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032

    Vivienne C. Greenstein

Authors
  1. William Seiple
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  2. Colleen J. Clemens
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  3. Vivienne C. Greenstein
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  4. Ronald E. Carr
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  5. Karen Holopigian
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Correspondence to William Seiple.

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Seiple, W., Clemens, C.J., Greenstein, V.C. et al. Test–retest reliability of the multifocal electroretinogram and Humphrey visual fields in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. Doc Ophthalmol 109, 255–272 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-005-0567-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-005-0567-0

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