Thompson DA, Kriss A, Chong K, Harris C, Russell-Eggitt I, Shawkat F, Neville BG, Aclimandos W, Taylor DS. Visual-evoked potential evidence of chiasmal hypoplasia.
Ophthalmology 1999;
106:2354-61. [PMID:
10599670 DOI:
10.1016/s0161-6420(99)90539-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
To show that chiasmal hypoplasia or aplasia need not be an isolated developmental anomaly and to examine the spectrum of associated clinical findings to explore the possibility that these patients may represent a phenotypic manifestation of a developmental gene anomaly.
DESIGN
An observational case series.
PARTICIPANTS
Five infants, between several weeks and 7 months of age, in whom the electrophysiologic characteristic of chiasmal hypoplasia had been noted were included.
METHODS
Flash electroretinography and flash and pattern visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) were elicited from all patients. Clinical ophthalmologic examinations, including funduscopy, were performed, and all patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The occipital distribution of monocular VEP response peaks was studied. The symmetry of lateral channel responses was compared for monocular stimulation.
RESULTS
All five patients had a crossed asymmetry in the monocular VEP occipital distribution, which is consistent with a paucity of fibers crossing at the chiasm. The MRI findings supported this electrophysiologic observation, illustrating degrees of chiasmal hypoplasia and variable coincidence of other midline abnormalities of the brain. Optic disc appearances varied from normal to hypoplastic and colobomatous.
CONCLUSIONS
The ophthalmologic and MRI findings of five patients who showed a crossed asymmetry in monocular flash VEPs are consistent with a paucity of axons crossing at the chiasm. The similarities between achiasmia in humans and mice due to a Pax2 gene anomaly are discussed.
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