N. R. Miller

Visual dysfunction in patients receiving vigabatrin: clinical and electrophysiologic findings.

Background: Vigabatrin is an antiepileptic drug that, although relatively well tolerated, is associated with visual field constriction and other visual disturbances of unclear origin. Methods: We performed a complete neuroophthalmologic examination and electrophysiologic studies on 39 patients receiving vigabatrin and on 11 control patients. Results: Nearly 50% of patients receiving vigabatrin had constricted visual fields compared with control patients. Some of the vigabatrin patients also had reduced visual acuity and abnormal color vision. In addition, most vigabatrin patients had abnormal electroretinographic results, the severity of which correlated strongly with the degree of visual field constriction. Conclusions: Vigabatrin can cause electrophysiologic evidence of retinal dysfunction and clinically detectable disturbances of visual sensory function.

Visual function loss from vigabatrin Effect of stopping the drug

Objective: To determine if visual function loss from vigabatrin use recovers after the drug is discontinued. Background: Vigabatrin is an effective antiepileptic drug, but it is known to cause a variety of changes in visual function, including reductions in the visual field, visual acuity, color vision, and in electroretinogram (ERG) and electro-oculogram amplitudes. It is not known whether these changes are reversible. Methods: Measurements of static and kinetic visual fields, visual acuity, color vision, and the ERG were recorded while patients were taking vigabatrin and again in 13 patients who had discontinued the drug because of lack of efficacy or reductions in visual field. Most of the patients had been off the drug for 3 to 6 months, although two patients had been drug-free for almost 1 year. Results: Although ERG cone implicit time improved, most of the patients did not show improvement in either clinical measures of visual function (i.e., visual acuity, color vision, visual fields) or in ERG amplitudes. However, several patients who showed minimal visual field loss while on the drug had substantial recovery of ERG amplitudes. There was no statistical association between recovery of function and either duration of treatment or cumulative dosage. The multifocal ERG showed a diffuse loss of function that was not isolated to the periphery. Conclusions: Although the visual deficits in patients taking vigabatrin tend to be mild, most patients do not show improvement after they stop taking the drug. Visual field loss resulting from vigabatrin was not reversible. Visual acuity, color vision, and ERG amplitude loss may be reversible in patients with minimal or no field loss.

Visual function loss from vigabatrin. effect of stopping the drug

OBJECTIVE To determine if visual function loss from vigabatrin use recovers after the drug is discontinued. BACKGROUND Vigabatrin is an effective antiepileptic drug, but it is known to cause a variety of changes in visual function, including reductions in the visual field, visual acuity, color vision, and in electroretinogram (ERG) and electro-oculogram amplitudes. It is not known whether these changes are reversible. METHODS Measurements of static and kinetic visual fields, visual acuity, color vision, and the ERG were recorded while patients were taking vigabatrin and again in 13 patients who had discontinued the drug because of lack of efficacy or reductions in visual field. Most of the patients had been off the drug for 3 to 6 months, although two patients had been drug-free for almost 1 year. RESULTS Although ERG cone implicit time improved, most of the patients did not show improvement in either clinical measures of visual function (i.e., visual acuity, color vision, visual fields) or in ERG amplitudes. However, several patients who showed minimal visual field loss while on the drug had substantial recovery of ERG amplitudes. There was no statistical association between recovery of function and either duration of treatment or cumulative dosage. The multifocal ERG showed a diffuse loss of function that was not isolated to the periphery. CONCLUSIONS Although the visual deficits in patients taking vigabatrin tend to be mild, most patients do not show improvement after they stop taking the drug. Visual field loss resulting from vigabatrin was not reversible. Visual acuity, color vision, and ERG amplitude loss may be reversible in patients with minimal or no field loss.

A controlled study comparing visual function in patients treated with vigabatrin and tiagabine 1

OBJECTIVE Vigabatrin treatment is frequently associated with irreversible retinal injury and produces retinal electrophysiological changes in nearly all patients. Concern has been raised that tiagabine and other antiepilepsy drugs (AEDs) that increase brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) might produce similar electrophysiological and clinical changes in visual function. The study compared visual function between groups of patients with epilepsy treated long term with tiagabine, vigabatrin, and patients treated with other AEDs. METHODS A cross sectional study comparing visual acuity, colour vision, static and kinetic perimetry, and electroretinograms between groups of patients treated with tiagabine, vigabatrin, and other AEDs (control patients). Patients were adults receiving stable AED treatment for >6 months. RESULTS Vigabatrin treated patients had marked visual field constrictions in kinetic perimetry (mean radius 39.6 degrees OD, 40.5 degrees OS), while tiagabine patients had normal findings (mean 61 degrees OD, 62 degrees OS) (differences OD and OS, p=0.001), which were similar to epilepsy control patients (mean 60 degrees OD, 61 degrees OS). Vigabatrin patients had abnormal electroretinographic photopic B wave, oscillatory, and flicker responses, which correlated with visual field constrictions. These electroretinographic responses were normal for tiagabine patients and control patients. Patients were treated with vigabatrin for a median of 46 months compared with 29 months for tiagabine. Patients taking other AEDs that may change brain GABA had normal visual function. CONCLUSION Unlike vigabatrin, tiagabine treatment is associated with normal electroretinography and visual fields and ophthalmological function similar to epilepsy control patients. Differences between vigabatrin and other GABA modulating AEDs in retinal drug concentrations and other effects might explain why tiagabine increases in GABA reuptake do not cause retinal injury.