Citation

Shoeibi N, Mousavi MN, Balali-Mood M, Moshiri M, Darchini-Maragheh E, Mousavi SR, Abrishami M. Int. J. Retina Vitreous 2017; 3: e7.

Affiliation

0000 0001 0166 0922grid.411705.6Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin Square, Tehran, 1336616351 Iran.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s40942-017-0059-x

PMID

28286669

PMCID

PMC5338090

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The eye is one of the most sensitive organs to sulfur mustard (SM) [C4H8Cl2S], and preliminary symptoms of exposure usually become evident in the eyes. In this study we aim to evaluate the possible long-term retinal electrophysiologic complications of SM poisoning in Iranian veterans during Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988).

METHODS: In a cross-sectional study forty Iranian veterans who were exposed to mustard gas during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) were included. All the cases underwent complete ocular exam and retinal electrophysiological evaluation, including electroretinography (ERG) and electrooculography (EOG). Data was analyzed using SPSS software. The normal distribution was checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Comparison of electrophysiologic values with maximum standard levels was performed using one-sample Student t-test and test of significance was one-tailed.

RESULTS: Foreign body sensation (70%), dry eye (50%), photophobia (30%), lacrimation (20%) and pain sensation (10%) were among the common symptoms. ERG showed significant reduced amplitude in rod response, maximal combined response, oscillatory potentials, cone response and 30 Hz flicker waves compared to normal values (p < 0.05). Implicit time of b-wave rod response ERG recording was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Implicit time of cone response b-wave was within normal limits. In EOG, Arden ratio did not decrease (total average of 2.311 and 2.48 in right and left eyes, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Delayed toxic effects of SM poisoning in the veterans were observed in the retina, but not in the retinal pigment epithelium layer. As the retina is a neural tissue, long-term effects of SM on neural tissues are presumed.

Language: en

Keywords

Chemical warfare agents; Electrooculography; Electroretinograghy; Retina; Sulfur mustard