Visual field disturbances in epileptic patients treated with vigabatrin (sevril)

Varda Gross-Tsur*, Eli Lahat, Eyal Banin, Eli Shahar, Ruth Shalev

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vigabatrin, one of the newer anti-epileptic drugs (AED), whose effect is mediated via elevated levels of brain GABA, has proved to be effective in drug resistant partial seizures and infantile spasms. Recently, visual field constriction was found in up to 30% of adults, whereas information for the pediatric age group is sparse. We examined 24 visually asymptomatic children, ages 3.5-18 years, treated for 3.01.6 years at doses of 25-90 mg/kg. These children underwent an ophthalmologic examination, visual evoked potentials, electroretinogram and when possible, perimetry. Over half of the children had at least one abnormal test and 11/17, who were able to undergo perimetric studies, had symmetrical, nasal visual field constriction. In view of the gravity and prevalence of visual field constriction, use of the AED vigabatrin should be weighed against its clinical benefits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)247-249+315
JournalHarefuah
Volume141
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anti-epileptic drug
  • ERG-VEP
  • Epilepsy
  • Vigabatrin
  • Visual field constriction

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