Analysis of full-field electroretinography parameters and potential for monitoring functional retinal deterioration in unilateral retinal vasculitis

Abstract

To elucidate changes of full-field electroretinography (ffERG) tests in active unilateral retinal vasculitis, using the unaffected fellow eye as an internal control. Despite no significant differences in best corrected visual acuity (p=0.100) or central subfield macular thickness (p=0.084) at baseline, ffERG showed significant reductions in five of eight amplitudes (i.e. DA10 a-wave, p<0.001) and delays in six of eight implicit times (i.e. light-adapted Flicker, p=0.002). At follow-up ffERG, following management for retinal vasculitis, the implicit times normalised, coinciding with inflammation reduction. However, the amplitude reductions persisted. In ffERG, the implicit time might be a sensitive biomarker for retinal vasculitis activity and the amplitude might be one for permanent functional loss.