PATTERN, FLICKER, AND FLASH ELECTRORETINOGRAPHY IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

To study electroretinographic (ERG) changes in the course of human imm unodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, 42 eyes without retinitis were exam ined twice or more, During 9.6 months of mean observation time the vis ual acuity did not change, We found progressive functional impairment for the first, second, and third neurons of the visual pathway: the pa ttern-ERG amplitude (retinal ganglion-cell function) decreased by 11%, the b-wave amplitude (bipolars mediated by Muller cells) decreased by 13%, and the a-wave amplitude (dominated by rods) diminished by 21%. The flicker amplitude (dominated by cones) decreased by 20%. All of th e latter four changes were significant (P<0.02, Damage to the retina i n HIV infection cannot solely be explained by visible changes in HIV r etinopathy.