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Development of ERG responses: the ISCEV rod, maximal and cone responses in normal subjects
Anne B Fulton1, Ronald M Hansen, Carol A Westall
1Department of Ophthalmology, The Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Anne.Fulton@tch.harvard.edu
Insights
Electroretinogram (ERG) responses in infants and children show significant developmental changes. These findings establish provisional norms for comparing pediatric patient ERG data.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) provides standard protocols for electroretinogram (ERG) testing.
- Establishing normative ERG values in pediatric populations is crucial for diagnosing visual system disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) electroretinogram (ERG) responses in normal infants and children.
- To provide provisional normative data for pediatric ERG assessments.
Main Methods:
- Compiled ISCEV rod, maximal dark-adapted, and cone ERG response parameters from 409 normal subjects (1 week to 52 years).
- Subjects were stratified into seven age groups, including four infant age groups (< 52 weeks).
- Response parameters (amplitudes, implicit times) were summarized as percentiles for each age group.
Main Results:
- Youngest infants (1-5 weeks) exhibited significantly smaller amplitudes and longer implicit times compared to adults.
- A systematic increase in amplitude and decrease in implicit time was observed with increasing age.
- These developmental trends were consistent across all tested ISCEV ERG conditions.
Conclusions:
- Significant developmental changes occur in ERG responses from infancy through childhood.
- The presented medians and ranges serve as provisional norms for evaluating ERG data in pediatric patients.
- These norms facilitate the identification of abnormal ERG findings in children with potential visual impairments.
Purpose:
Summarize ISCEV ERG responses from normal infants and children.
Methods:
The amplitudes and implicit times of the ISCEV rod, maximal dark-adapted and cone responses from a total of 409 normal infants (n = 128), children and adult controls were compiled. The subjects, aged 1 week to 52 years, were divided into seven age groups, including four in infancy (< 52 weeks). The response parameters for each age group were summarized as percentiles.
Results:
In each ISCEV condition, the youngest infants (1-5 weeks) had significantly smaller amplitudes and longer implicit times than adults. Amplitude increased and implicit time decreased systematically with age.
Conclusions:
The developmental changes in ERG responses are significant. The medians and ranges herein provide provisional norms against which the ERG responses from pediatric patients can be compared.
