Role of pattern electroretinogram in assessment of retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND Hypertension is a major health problem in both developing and developed countries. Hypertension causes retinal structural and functional impairment within the ganglion cell layer. Pattern electroretinogram (PERG) offers an objective simple tool for assessment of retinal ganglion cell function.Aim of the work: To assess retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients with or without signs of retinopathy using PERG. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a case control study, including ninety-eight eyes. Twenty-eight eyes of healthy subjects served as a control group (group I) and seventy eyes of patients with systemic hypertension, who were further subdivided into group II including 39 eyes of hypertensive patients with normal fundus and group III including 31 eyes of patients with signs of hypertensive retinopathy. All subjects were subjected to ophthalmological examination and electrophysiological assessment using PERG. RESULTS PERG implicit times were significantly prolonged and amplitudes were significantly reduced in patients with established hypertensive retinopathy. PERG abnormalities were detected in 96.8% of hypertensive retinopathy patients and 79.5% of hypertensive patients with normal fundus. CONCLUSIONS PERG can objectively assess retinal dysfunction in hypertensive patients and may be considered a promising tool for early detection of hypertensive retinopathy.