HIV Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about HIV, including details on human immunodeficiency virus, testing, treatment, prevention, vaccines, aids.

Assessment of retinal function in patients with HIV without infectious retinitis by multifocal electroretinogram and automated perimetry.

Falkenstein I, Kozak I, Kayikcioglu O, Cheng L, Bartsch DU, Azen SP, Labree LD, Freeman WR

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0946, USA.

PURPOSE: To determine if multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) testing shows abnormalities that correspond to perimetric defects in HIV positive patients without infectious retinitis. METHODS: We studied three groups of patients: HIV negative controls, HIV high CD4 nadir patients (lowest CD4 T cell count is over 100) and low CD4 nadir patients (below 100 for over 6 months). Twenty-six HIV positive eyes and 16 HIV negative control eyes were studied by mfERG. A subset of 10 eyes also underwent computerized perimetry for comparison. We analyzed mfERG by hexagons as well as by quadrants and rings. RESULTS: Of 103 hexagon locations there was no significant difference in the amplitudes P1 and N1 (nV/degree) between the three studied groups (p>0.05), similarly, the latencies were not different (p>0.05). All eyes with significant visual field defects at the 0.01 and 0.005 level (Humphrey pattern deviation; 24-2) were compared to mfERG amplitudes and latencies at those locations-there were no corresponding defects in mfERG data (p>0.2). CONCLUSION: In the era of HAART there are still demonstrable visual field defects and other evidence of damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer in HIV patients. Our mfERG studies show that the damage appears to affect the inner retina, the outer retina is spared. Further studies of inner retinal structure and function are indicated to elucidate this process.

Published 10 October 2006 in Retina, 26(8): 928-34.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 HIV Research Today. All Rights Reserved.