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Comparative Study
. 2013 Mar;61(3):100-3.
doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.99842.

Color vision versus pattern visual evoked potentials in the assessment of subclinical optic pathway involvement in multiple sclerosis

Fatih C Gundogan  1 , Ahmet Tas, Salih Altun, Oguzhan Oz, Uzeyir Erdem, Gungor Sobaci
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Color vision versus pattern visual evoked potentials in the assessment of subclinical optic pathway involvement in multiple sclerosis

Fatih C Gundogan et al. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Optic pathway involvement in multiple sclerosis is frequently the initial sign in the disease process. In most clinical applications, pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) is used in the assessment of optic pathway involvement.

Objective: To question the value of PVEP against color vision assessment in the diagnosis of subclinical optic pathway involvement.

Materials and methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included 20 multiple sclerosis patients without a history of optic neuritis, and 20 healthy control subjects. Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) 100-Hue testing and PVEPs to 60-min arc and 15-min arc checks by using Roland-Consult RetiScan® system were performed. P 100 amplitude, P 100 latency in PVEP and total error scores (TES) in FM 100-Hue test were assessed.

Results: Expanded Disability Status Scale score and the time from diagnosis were 2.21 ± 2.53 (ranging from 0 to 7) and 4.1 ± 4.4 years. MS group showed significantly delayed P 100 latency for both checks (P < 0.001). Similarly, MS patients had significantly increased total error scores (TES) in FM-100 Hue (P < 0.001). The correlations between TESs and PVEP amplitudes / latencies were insignificant for both checks (P > 0.05 for all). 14 MS patients (70%) had an increased TESs in FM-100 Hue, 11 (55%) MS patients had delayed P 100 latency and 9 (45%) had reduced P 100 amplitude. The areas under the ROC curves were 0.944 for FM-100 Hue test, 0.753 for P 100 latency, and 0.173 for P 100 amplitude.

Conclusions: Color vision testing seems to be more sensitive than PVEP in detecting subclinical visual pathway involvement in MS.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test result of a patient with optic neuritis
Figure 2
Figure 2
P100 latency (a) and amplitude (b) histograms of patients. Vertical lines represent the 95% (a) and 5% (b) confidence interval limits of the control group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue results of the groups a. (b) shows the histogram of FM-100 Hue test result of patients
Figure 4
Figure 4
ROC curves of P100 latency, P100 amplitude and Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue tests in detecting subclinical optic pathway involvement in multiple sclerosis
Figure 5
Figure 5
The correlations of P100 latency/amplitude a, b to the total error score in Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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