[Statistical results of 700 electrophysiologic tests (ERG) in patients without ophthalmologic manifestations treated with synthetic antimalarials for rheumatologic or dermatologic disease].

Abstract

737 adapto-electroretinograms are registered on patients treated by chloroquine for a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or for a lupus. Their ophthalmological examinations are completely normal. In term of the cumulative doses, the statistical results of the electrological characteristics of the different waves of the ERG issued from white, red and blue stimulations show: a great stability of the latencies of the "a" and "b" waves; a gradual decrease of the "b" wave amplitudes for the RA; a gradual increase of the "b" wave amplitudes till a level dose reached between 800 and 900 g and then a decrease of the "b" wave amplitudes, for the lupus. We discuss the electrophysiological criterions for a beginning intoxication. As a standard, for the R.A., it seems that a certain amount of "b" wave amplitude decrease could be admitted but the "a" and "b" wave latencies must be very constant. For the lupus, the hyper normality or at least stability of the "b" wave amplitude can be admitted till a dose around 800 g, associated to a good stability of the "a" and "b" wave latencies. Beyond these statistically established limits a beginning intoxication should be suspected.