[Electroretinography in the diagnosis and study of pathogenesis of X-linkage retinoschizis].

Due to an extensive variability of manifestations of X-linkage retinoschizis, there is a need in a differential diagnosis of it and of other hereditary retinal diseases. The method of electroretinography is often of primary importance in specifying a diagnosis in ophthalmology; it both enables the detection of new and more sensitive criteria of early and differential diagnosis and ensures a more profound understanding of changes occurring in the retina. A topical analysis of changes of the bioelectric activity taking place in different retinal layers and sections as well as a differential evaluation of the functional condition of neurons and glia Muller's cells in patients with X-linkage retinoschizis were accomplished within the framework of this study. The nature of the peak latency and of the b-wave amplitude in the electroretinogram (ERG) and in the mechano-electroretinogram (MERG) as well as of a low-frequency ERG is indicative of that Muller's cells are damaged; the damage severity is related with an intensity of the pathological process and can be objectively determined by the ERG examinations of patients. An analysis of sub-components of a low-frequency rheoelectroretinogram (RERG) shows weakened inhibitory inter-neuron connections in the retina, which is a sign of disease aggravation. The regularities of changes of retinal biopotential to blue light flashes under all registration conditions (ganz-feld, macular and rhythmical stimulation) differ from the ERG dynamics to other light stimuli, which is indicative of a significant role of the pathology of S-cone paths in the development of X-linkage retinoschizis.