Relationship between the full‐field stimulus test and self‐reported visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa: REPEAT Study report No. 3

Acta Ophthalmologica, vol. 103, pp. 396–403

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the full-field stimulus test (FST) and self-reported visual function using the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with clinically diagnosed RP (n = 31) performed FST to determine retinal sensitivity thresholds for blue, red and white stimuli. The difference between the blue and red thresholds was used to identify photoreceptor mediation type. Patients completed the MRDQ from which disability (Θ) scores were derived across seven visual function domains. Correlations between the FST thresholds and MRDQ domain Θ-scores were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: The median age was 38.0 years, and photoreceptor mediation was rod-based in 11 patients (35.5%), cone-based in seven patients (22.6%) and mixed in 13 patients (41.9%). The highest disability scores were reported in the domains of 'mesopic peripheral function' and 'scotopic function'. Significant correlations were found between all chromatic stimuli thresholds and the MRDQ domains of 'scotopic function', 'mesopic peripheral function' and 'photopic peripheral function'. The strongest correlations of these domains were observed with the blue FST (p < 0.001). The threshold on blue stimulus FST and age were significant predictors of the domain scores on 'scotopic function' (p < 0.001), 'mesopic peripheral function' (p < 0.001) and 'photopic peripheral function' (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Strong correlations between MRDQ domains related to rod function and FST were found in patients with RP. These findings confirm that FST can be used as an informative and clinically relevant endpoint in RP trials when evaluating therapeutic interventions.

Authors 3

1. Jessica S. Karuntu Aachen Department of Ophthalmology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden the Netherlands Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. S. B. A. E. Tulp

   Amsterdam University Medical Centers · Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology Amsterdam University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam The Netherlands

   Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

3. Camiel J. F. Boon corresponding Aachen Department of Ophthalmology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden the Netherlands Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Amsterdam University Medical Centers · Leiden University Medical Center · Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Ophthalmology Amsterdam University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam The Netherlands

   Department of Ophthalmology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

   Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands