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Visual Impairment in Children with Epilepsy Treated with Vigabatrin
Ann Neurol 48:60-64, Gross-Tsur,V. et al, 2000
See this aricle in Pubmed

Article Abstract
Vigabatrin is an anti-epileptic drug particularly useful for drug-resistant partial seizures and infantile spasms. Recently, vigabatrin-induced visual field constriction (VFC) and abnormal ocular electrophysiological studies were reported. In this study, we assessed visual fields, visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and electroretinography (ERG) in children treated with vegabatrin. Twenty-four visually asymptomatic children underwent a clinical ophthalmological examination, perimetry when appropriate, and VEP and ERG. Thirteen patients had at least one abnormal study. VFC was seen in 11 of 17 patients who had perimetry; 5 of 15 patients who underwent VEP testing and 4 of 11 who underwent ERG testing had abnormal examinations. For the most part, abnormal VEPs and ERGs were found in children who also had VFC. There was a consistent trend for longer treatment periods to correlate with VFC, abnormal ERGs, and VEPs. In summary, over half of the children treated with vigabatrin demonstrated VFC or abnormal ocular electrophysiological studies. Perimetry seemed to be the most sensitive modality for identifying vigabatrin toxicity. Abnormal ERGs and VEPs were primarily seen in children with VFC and may be useful in monitoring children who are not appropriate candidates for perimetry. Although the incidence of vigabatrin-induced VFC is, worrisome, in the context of intractable seizures or infantile spasms, therapeutic benefits must be weighed against risks.
 
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adverse drug reaction
anticonvulsants
anticonvulsants,untoward effects of
children
electroretinograph
neurotoxin
seizure
seizure,children
seizure,intractable
seizure,intractable,treatment of
seizure,treatment of
vigabatrin
visual evoked response
visual field defect
visual fields
visual fields,constricted

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