Study on the variation of visual evoked potential and its diagnostic value in children with optic neuritis

Objective To investigate the characteristics and clinical value of visual evoked potentials(VEP) in children with optic neuritis. Methods The VEP of 33 children with optic neuritis were tested by NICOLET evoked potential instrument.The results were compared with those of cranial and/or orbital MRI and fundus examination, and the consistency with visual performance was analyzed.The correlation between visual sensitivity and VEP results was analyzed. Results Among 33 children with optic neuritis, the abnormal rate of VEP in 52 abnormal eyes was 88.5%; the abnormal rate of cranial and/or orbital MRI was 38.5%; the abnormal rate of fundus examination was 62.2%; the abnormal rate of VEP examination was significantly higher than that of cranial and/or orbital MRI and fundus examination (P<0.05); the consistency rate between VEP examination and visual acuity was 84.8%.The consistency rate between pattern reversal visual evoked potential (P-VEP) and visual acuity was 86.8%, and that between flash visual evoked potential (F-VEP) and visual acuity was 82.1%.With the increase of visual impairment, the percentage of P100 wave loss increased gradually.There was no correlation between visual acuity and the prolongation of P100 wave latency. Conclusion There are significant differences between VEP and fundus examination and MRI, the sensitivity of VEP is superior to both.P-VEP is more consistent with visual acuity than F-VEP.VEP has certain value in evaluating the degree of visual impairment in children with optic neuritis.It can not be used to evaluate the level of optic sensitivity when the latency of P100 wave is prolonging. Key words: Optic neuritis; Visual evoked potentials; Visual; Children