Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa (URP) is a rare tapetoretinal dystrophy affecting only one eye. The François and Verriest criteria are necessary to make a correct diagnosis of URP: exclude all infective etiologies, check that the clinical signs of retinitis are present in the affected eye and ensure the total absence of any signs or symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa in the fellow eye. The standard electroretinogram and standard electro-oculogram are very useful for the correct diagnosis. Other pigmentary retinopathies simulating retinitis pigmentosa have to be excluded, such as previous retinal inflammatory diseases like syphilis, rubeola, other viral diseases and onchocerciasis. In this paper, 4 cases of URP are reported.

Keywords:
Electro-oculogram, Electroretinogram, Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa
1.
Weleber RG: Retinitis pigmentosa and allied disorders; in Ryan SJ (ed): Retina. St Louis, Mosby, 1989, pp 299–420.
2.
Biro I: Symmetrical development of pigmentation as a specific feature of the fundus pattern in retinitis pigmentosa. Am J Ophthalmol 1963;55:1176–1179.
3.
François J, Verriest G: Rétinopathie pigmentaire unilatérale. Ophthalmologica 1952;124:65–88.
4.
Marmor MF, Zrenner E: Standard for Clinical Electroretinography (1994 update). Doc Ophthalmol 1995;89:199–210.
5.
Marmor MF, Zrenner E: Standard for Clinical Electro-oculography. Doc Ophthalmol 1993;85:115–124.
6.
Bird AC: X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Br J Ophthalmol 1975;59:177–199.
7.
Boughman JA, Fishman GA: A genetic analysis of RP. Br J Ophthalmol 1983;67:449–454.
8.
Bunker CH, Berson EL, Bromley WC, Hayes RP, Roderick TH: Prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa in Maine. Am J Ophthalmol 1984;97:357–365.
9.
Maeder G, Muller P: La rétinite pigmentaire unilatérale. Ann Ocul (Paris) 1950;150:771–777.
10.
Franceschetti A, François J, Babel J: Les hérédo-dégénérescences choriorétiniennes (dégénérescences tapéto-rétiniennes). Rapp Soc Franc Ophthalmol. Paris, Masson, 1963.
11.
De Felice PG, Bottoni F, Orzalesi N: Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa associated with exfoliation syndrome. Int Ophthalmol 1988;11:219–226.
12.
Jacobson JH, Stephens G: Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento. Arch Ophthalmol 1962;67:456–458.
13.
Berson EL: Retinitis pigmentosa: Some observations on the course; in Heckenlively JR, Arden GB (eds): Principles and Practice of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. St Louis, Mosby, 1991, pp 501–509.
14.
Berson EL, Sandberg MA, Rosner B, Birch DG, Hanson AH: Natural course of retinitis pigmentosa over a three-year interval. Am J Ophthalmol 1985;99:240–251.
15.
Riggs LA: Electroretinography in cases of night blindness. Am J Ophthalmol 1954;38:70–78.
16.
Arden GB, Fojas MR: Electrophysiological abnormalities in pigmentary degenerations of the retina. Arch Ophthalmol 1962;68:369–389.
1998
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.