Bietti crystalline dystrophy and choroidal neovascularization in childhood

Macular neovascularization in inherited retinal diseases: A review

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults. Macular neovascularization (MNV) may be a presenting feature or occurs as a late-stage complication in several IRDs. We performed an extensive literature review on MNV associated with IRDs. MNV is a well-known complication of Sorsby fundus dystrophy and pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Those with late-onset Stargardt disease may masquerade as exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) when MNV is the presenting feature. Peripherinopathies may develop MNV that responds well to a short course of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, while bestrophinopathies tend to develop MNV in the early stages of the disease without vision loss. Enhanced S-cone syndrome manifests type 3 MNV that typically regresses into a subfoveal fibrotic nodule. MNV is only a rare complication in choroideraemia and rod-cone dystrophies. Most IRD-related MNVs exhibit a favorable visual prognosis requiring less intensive regimens of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy compared to age-related macular degeneration. We discuss the role of key imaging modalities in the diagnosis of MNV across a wide spectrum of IRDs and highlight the gaps in our knowledge with respect to the natural history and prognosis to pave the way for future directions of research.

Diagnostic and Management Strategies of Bietti Crystalline Dystrophy: Current Perspectives

Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare, genetically determined chorioretinal dystrophy presenting with intraretinal crystalline deposits and varying degrees of progressive chorioretinal atrophy commencing at the posterior pole. In some cases, there can be concomitant corneal crystals noted first in the superior or inferior limbus. CYP4V2 gene, a member of the cytochrome P450 family is responsible for the disease and more than 100 mutations have been defined thus far. However, a genotype-phenotype correlation has not been established yet. Visual impairment commonly occurs between the second and third decades of life. By the fifth or sixth decade of life, vision loss can become so severe that the patient may potentially become legally blind. Multitudes of multimodal imaging modalities can be utilized to demonstrate the clinical features, course, and complications of the disease. This present review aims to reiterate the clinical features of BCD, update the clinical perspectives with the help of multimodal imaging techniques, and overview its genetic background with future therapeutic approaches.

Unilateral macular neovascularization formation during the follow-up of a 15-year-old boy with Bietti crystalline dystrophy and the successful treatment outcome with a single intravitreal ranibizumab injection

Objective

To report the successful outcome with a single intravitreal ranibizumab injection in a 15-year-old boy with Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) who developed a unilateral macular neovascularization (MNV).

Methods

A retrospective case report.

Results

A 15-year-old Caucasian boy with Bietti crystalline dystrophy was diagnosed to have a unilateral MNV a year after the initial examination with the help of multimodal imaging and he was treated with a single intravitreal ranibizumab injection. Five months later, visual acuity improved and anatomically a dry-looking macula was noted.

Conclusion

MNV is among the rare macular complications of BCD. The present case is the third reported pediatric case with MNV in association with BCD and the first pediatric BCD patient who received a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (anti-VEGF) agent.

Modern diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in familial maculopathy with reference to North Carolina macular dystrophy

AIMS

We present a familial hereditary macular dystrophy, resembling North Carolina Macular Dystrophy. In members of a family, we describe the development of diagnostic-therapeutic approaches and their impact on the prognosis of those whose vision was affected.

METHODS

The macular dystrophy of varying degrees of severity was diagnosed in 3 consecutive generations in different family members, both men and women. Modern therapeutic tools were used for the diagnostics. In one patient of the youngest generation, the development of secondary choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was identified and treated with an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) agent. DNA was isolated from venous blood and genome sequencing was performed in a proband.

RESULTS

We analysed the data of 13 members of one family of three consecutive generations. Six of them had macular dystrophy. The first were two of three siblings, a woman (73 years old) and a man (67). The offspring of the afflicted man, a female (36) and a male (80), had maculopathy. The first daughter of the woman (12) revealed findings of maculopathy but with normal electrical activity of the retina. The second girl (18), developed secondary CNV which responded well to intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Genetic analysis excluded mutations previously reported to be pathogenic for NCMD.

CONCLUSION

If there is a maculopathy of unclear etiology in younger patients or in patients with unclear development or appearance, it is advisable to focus carefully on the family history and trace the occurrence of impaired vision in other family members.

Asymptomatic Unilateral Full-Thickness Macular Hole in a Patient with Bietti Crystalline Dystrophy During 13-Year Follow-up with Optical Coherence Tomography

A 39-year-old woman with progressive bilateral visual decline was diagnosed as having Bietti crystalline dystrophy in 2008. The disease course was monitored with optical coherence tomography until 2021. During the last routine eye examination in 2021, a full-thickness, slightly eccentric, visually asymptomatic macular hole with an intact foveola was noted in the left eye. No surgical treatment was recommended. The pathogenesis of full-thickness macular hole remained unclear as there were only subtle signs of prior very mild macular edema and vitreomacular interface abnormality. A degenerative process was also possible.