Visual field loss associated with vigabatrin: pathological correlations
- aNeurology Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia, bNeuro-ophthalmology Service, cOphthalmology Unit, dDepartment of Neuropathology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, and Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Adelaide, Frome Road, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Professor P Blumbergspeter.blumbergs{at}imvs.sa.gov.au
- Received 18 July 2000
- Revised 22 November 2000
- Accepted 22 November 2000
Abstract
Pathological changes are reported in the anterior visual pathways of a 41 year old man with complex partial seizures treated with vigabatrin who developed bilateral visual field constriction. There was peripheral retinal atrophy with loss of ganglion cells and loss of nerve fibres in the optic nerves, chiasm, and tracts. No evidence of intramyelinic oedema was seen. These findings suggest that the primary site of injury lies within the ganglion cells in the retina. The degree of atrophy seen would suggest that the visual field loss is irreversible.
