Purpose: To characterize retinal electrophysiologic and psychophysical abnormalities associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II.
Methods: Three adults with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II were studied. Retinal function was measured psychophysically (automated perimetry, Farnsworth D-15 color vision testing, and dark adaptometry) and electrophysiologically (full-field flash electroretinography and electro-oculography).
Results: Two symptomatic individuals had prominent drusenlike deposits and retinal pigment epithelial disturbances, findings characteristic of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II retinopathy. These individuals had mild visual field and color vision abnormalities, prolonged dark adaptation, and delayed electroretinographic dark-adapted dim and bright flash responses of normal amplitude. The electro-oculogram of the most severely affected individual was abnormal. The third individual who was asymptomatic had the mildest fundus abnormalities and exhibited normal psychophysical and electrophysiologic responses.
Conclusions: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II retinopathy may be associated with symptomatic and measurable psychophysical and electrophysiologic abnormalities of retinal function.