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Visual evoked potentials in patients after methanol poisoning
Pavel Urban1, Sergey Zakharov2, Pavel Diblík3
1National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic (Centre for Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine). pavel.urban@szu.cz.
Summary
Visual evoked potentials (VEP) detected subclinical optic system damage in 43% of methanol poisoning survivors. Metabolic acidosis, not alcohol abuse, correlated with visual impairment, indicating VEP
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Toxicology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Methanol poisoning can cause severe visual impairment.
- Visual evoked potentials (VEP) assess the integrity of the visual pathway.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate VEP abnormalities in patients following severe methanol poisoning.
- To identify factors associated with visual pathway damage in methanol toxicity.
Main Methods:
- VEP testing using pattern-reversal stimulation in 47 methanol poisoning survivors.
- Analysis of VEP abnormality criteria: absent response or prolonged P1 latency (>117 ms).
- Correlation analysis with initial methanol, formic acid, lactate levels, and serum pH.
Main Results:
- VEP abnormalities were found in 43% of patients, including those with normal visual acuity.
- Abnormal VEP correlated significantly with lower initial serum pH (median 7.16 vs. 7.34).
- No significant correlation was observed with methanol, formic acid, or lactate concentrations, or chronic alcohol abuse.
Conclusions:
- VEP is a sensitive tool for detecting subclinical visual system impairment after methanol poisoning.
- Metabolic acidosis is a key factor in methanol-induced visual damage.
- VEP serves as a baseline for long-term follow-up to assess visual recovery and sequelae.
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