Assessment of the Relationship between Vigabatrin and Visual Field Defect in Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The authors carried out this study to determine the relationship between vigabatrin (VGB) and visual field defect. METHODS: Seventy eight patients older than 8 years who had epilepsy which had developed and been diagnosed, and were receiving add-on therapy, were the subjects of this study. If suspicious results were obtained from the initial test with the Humphrey automatic perimeter, the patient was tested again with the Goldman perimeter. Follow-up examinations were performed on these patients after 6 months. RESULTS: In this study, five of the 78 patients had suspicious primary test results, but upon the second examination they were all found to be normal. Thus there were no patients with visual field defects. CONCLUSIONS: VGB is a drug which may cause visual field defects, but in this study no patients presented with this symptom. Instead of limiting the use of VGB due to the adverse effect of visual field defect in the initial treatment of partial seizure and infantile spasm untreatable with other medication, if used with care it may not cause serious problems. Screening for visual defect is recommended, and in patients taking VGB regular examination is necessary.