[en] In this paper we review the theoretical and experimental data concerning point defects and diffusion in metallic glasses. We shall show that even though simulations seem to indicate that point defects could exist under certain conditions in glassy alloys there is not yet clear experimental evidence for their existence; in addition their role in atomic transport is not clear since the diffusion mechanisms are not known todate. To conclude, we propose specific experiments and simulations which could be helpful for a better understanding of these phenomena