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[Multifocal Electroretinography in Patients with Poppers Maculopathy].
Milena Pahlitzsch1, Daniel Salchow1, Mirjam Rossel1
1Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Klinische Monatsblatter Fur Augenheilkunde
|October 13, 2017
Summary
Poppers maculopathy, a visual impairment from amyl nitrite abuse, shows no significant retinal dysfunction on multifocal electroretinography despite decreased visual acuity. This diagnostic test is not recommended for poppers maculopathy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Toxicology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Amyl nitrite (poppers) abuse can cause maculopathy, a condition affecting visual acuity.
- Optical coherence tomography reveals outer retinal layer alterations in poppers maculopathy.
- The extent of retinal dysfunction in poppers maculopathy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate retinal function in patients with poppers maculopathy using multifocal electroretinography (mfERG).
- To compare mfERG results between patients with poppers maculopathy and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) was performed on 6 patients with poppers maculopathy and 6 healthy controls.
- Analysis included response densities and implicit times of N1 and P1 components of the mfERG.
Main Results:
- Patients with poppers maculopathy exhibited lower N1 and P1 response densities and implicit times compared to controls, particularly in specific retinal rings.
- A statistically significant finding was a reduced N1 response density in one patient.
- No significant differences were observed in summed responses or averaged rings.
Conclusions:
- Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) did not reveal significant retinal impairment in patients with poppers maculopathy.
- The mfERG findings contrast with the reported decrease in visual acuity associated with the condition.
- mfERG is not a reliable diagnostic tool for poppers maculopathy in clinical practice.