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Alomairah H, Ali A, Altemaimi R, Alabduljalil T. Uncommon fundus presentation of Koolen-De Vries Syndrome in a young boy. Ophthalmic Genet 2024; 45:164-166. [PMID: 37528764 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2023.2237573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Koleen-De Vries syndrome (KDVS) is a rare genetic condition characterized by typical facial features, intellectual disability, cardiac and renal diseases, and ophthalmic manifestations. The syndrome is known to be caused by a microdeletion in the 17q21.31 region, involving multiple genes, including the KANSL1 gene. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 9-year-old boy with no family history of ophthalmic syndromes. The patient exhibited bilateral hypopigmented iris and unilateral choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) hypopigmentation. DISCUSSION The presence of ophthalmic manifestations, such as bilateral hypopigmented iris and unilateral choroidal and RPE hypopigmentation, in a patient with KDVS adds to the clinical spectrum of this syndrome. Although the exact mechanism underlying these ocular findings is not yet fully understood, the microdeletion in the 17q21.31 region, which includes the KANSL1 gene, is likely to play a role. CONCLUSION This case highlights the importance of considering ophthalmic manifestations in individuals diagnosed with Koleen-De Vries syndrome. Further research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis and clinical implications of these ocular findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rabeah Altemaimi
- Human Genetics Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
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Cortinhal T, Santos C, Vaz-Pereira S, Marta A, Duarte L, Miranda V, Costa J, Sousa AB, Peter VG, Kaminska K, Rivolta C, Carvalho AL, Saraiva J, Soares CA, Silva R, Murta J, Santos LC, Marques JP. Genetic profile of syndromic retinitis pigmentosa in Portugal. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024:10.1007/s00417-023-06360-2. [PMID: 38189974 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-023-06360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) comprises a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of inherited retinal degenerations, where 20-30% of patients exhibit extra-ocular manifestations (syndromic RP). Understanding the genetic profile of RP has important implications for disease prognosis and genetic counseling. This study aimed to characterize the genetic profile of syndromic RP in Portugal. METHODS Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Six Portuguese healthcare providers identified patients with a clinical diagnosis of syndromic RP and available genetic testing results. All patients had been previously subjected to a detailed ophthalmologic examination and clinically oriented genetic testing. Genetic variants were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics; only likely pathogenic or pathogenic variants were considered relevant for disease etiology. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-two patients (53.3% males) from 100 families were included. Usher syndrome was the most frequent diagnosis (62.0%), followed by Bardet-Biedl (19.0%) and Senior-Løken syndromes (7.0%). Deleterious variants were identified in 86/100 families for a diagnostic yield of 86.0% (87.1% for Usher and 94.7% for Bardet-Biedl). A total of 81 genetic variants were identified in 25 different genes, 22 of which are novel. USH2A and MYO7A were responsible for most type II and type I Usher syndrome cases, respectively. BBS1 variants were the cause of Bardet-Biedl syndrome in 52.6% of families. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) records were available at baseline and last visit for 99 patients (198 eyes), with a median follow-up of 62.0 months. The mean BCVA was 56.5 ETDRS letters at baseline (Snellen equivalent ~ 20/80), declining to 44.9 ETDRS letters (Snellen equivalent ~ 20/125) at the last available follow-up (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This is the first multicenter study depicting the genetic profile of syndromic RP in Portugal, thus contributing toward a better understanding of this heterogeneous disease group. Usher and Bardet-Biedl syndromes were found to be the most common types of syndromic RP in this large Portuguese cohort. A high diagnostic yield was obtained, highlighting current genetic testing capabilities in providing a molecular diagnosis to most affected individuals. This has major implications in determining disease-related prognosis and providing targeted genetic counseling for syndromic RP patients in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Telmo Cortinhal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Cristina Santos
- Instituto de Oftalmologia Dr. Gama Pinto (IOGP), Lisboa, Portugal
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS, FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara Vaz-Pereira
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Santo António (CHUdSA), Porto, Portugal
- Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Lilianne Duarte
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga (CHEDV), Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
| | - Vitor Miranda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga (CHEDV), Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
| | - José Costa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Braga (HB), Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Berta Sousa
- Medical Genetics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Virginie G Peter
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karolina Kaminska
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carlo Rivolta
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB), 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- Medical Genetics Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- University Clinic of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Saraiva
- Medical Genetics Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Célia Azevedo Soares
- Medical Genetics Department, Centro de Genética Médica Jacinto Magalhães, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto (CHUP), Porto, Portugal
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Medical Science Department, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rufino Silva
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Murta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
- University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - João Pedro Marques
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.
- University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
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Abramowicz S, Dentel A, Chouraqui M, Bodaghi B, Touhami S. Atypical retinopathy in ataxia with vitamin E deficiency: report of a sibship. Neurogenetics 2024; 25:33-38. [PMID: 38105315 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-023-00741-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Typical retinitis pigmentosa (RP) may not be the only retinal phenotype encountered in ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED). The following short case series describes a novel form of retinopathy in AVED. We describe two patients with AVED belonging to the same consanguineous sibship. Both presented an unusual retinopathy consisting of scattered, multifocal, nummular, hyperautofluorescent atrophic retinal patches. The retinopathy remained stable under vitamin E supplementation. We hypothesize these changes to be the result of arrested AVED-related RP following early supplementation with α-tocopherol acetate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Abramowicz
- Department of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France.
| | - Alexandre Dentel
- Department of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Chouraqui
- Department of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Bahram Bodaghi
- Department of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Sara Touhami
- Department of Ophthalmology, IHU FOReSIGHT, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France
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Neuhann TM, Neuhann L. [Human genetic diagnostics in hereditary eye diseases : What does the ophthalmologist need to know]. Ophthalmologie 2023:10.1007/s00347-023-01878-6. [PMID: 37266672 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-023-01878-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary eye disorders can affect all ocular structures and can be accompanied by structural malformations (e.g. coloboma) or functional disorders (e.g. retinal dystrophy). Ocular phenotypes can also be the presenting symptom of many complex syndromic disorders. The majority of hereditary eye disorders are extremely heterogeneous but can be routinely diagnosed by modern high-throughput sequencing technologies. Molecular testing is highly important not only in in the evaluation of differential diagnoses but is also of increasing relevance due to individual treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Neuhann
- MGZ - Medizinisch genetisches Zentrum, Bayerstr. 3-5, 80335, München, Deutschland.
| | - Lukas Neuhann
- MVZ Prof. Neuhann, Helene-Weber-Allee 19, 80637, München, Deutschland
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Marques JP, Vaz-Pereira S, Costa J, Marta A, Henriques J, Silva R. Challenges, facilitators and barriers to the adoption and use of a web-based national IRD registry: lessons learned from the IRD-PT registry. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:323. [PMID: 36028864 PMCID: PMC9419370 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02489-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rare disease registries increase research accessibility for patients, while providing clinicians/investigators with a coherent data ecosystem necessary to boost research and patient care. The IRD-PT registry is a national, web-based, interoperable registry for inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) designed to generate scientific knowledge and collect high-quality data on the epidemiology, genomic landscape and natural history of IRDs in Portugal. In two years, the number of enrolled patients almost doubled (537 to 1060). Still, the registry has a lower-than-expected adoption rate, with only 4 centers across Portugal actively enrolling patients. This highlights a strong need to understand factors that may be hindering the registry’s nationwide adoption. The purpose of this manuscript is to analyze challenges, facilitators and barriers to the adoption and use of the IRD-PT registry, and to discuss avenues for improvement, focusing on keeping the registry sustainable in the long run. We believe that this exercise may help other rare disease registries to improve user adherence and engagement, ultimately contributing to develop more sustainable and successful registries in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Marques
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado em Oftalmologia (CRIO), Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal. .,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal. .,Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Ophthalmology, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Sara Vaz-Pereira
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte (CHULN), Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Ophthalmology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Costa
- Ophthalmology Unit, Hospital de Braga (HB), Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto), Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - José Henriques
- Instituto de Oftalmologia Dr. Gama Pinto (IOGP), Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Retina de Lisboa (IRL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rufino Silva
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado em Oftalmologia (CRIO), Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Ophthalmology, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
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Marques JP, Marta A, Geada S, Carvalho AL, Menéres P, Murta J, Saraiva J, Silva R. Clinical/Demographic Functional Testing and Multimodal Imaging Differences between Genetically Solved and Unsolved Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ophthalmologica 2021; 245:134-143. [PMID: 34695833 DOI: 10.1159/000520305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to compare clinical/demographic functional testing and multimodal imaging features between genetically solved and genetically unsolved nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (nsRP) patients. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at an inherited retinal dystrophies reference center. Consecutive patients with nsRP and available genetic testing results performed between 2018 and 2020 were included. Genetic testing was clinically oriented, and variants were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Only class IV or V variants were considered disease-causing. Clinical/demographic, functional, and imaging features were compared between genetically unsolved (G1) and genetically solved (G2) patients. RESULTS A total of 175 patients (146 families) were included: 68 patients (59 families) in G1 and 107 patients (87 families) in G2. First symptoms <25 years, consanguinity, evidence for a particular inheritance pattern, and the absence of indicators for phenocopies were significantly more prevalent in G2. No significant differences were observed on best-corrected visual acuity. The visual field index and mean central retinal layer thickness were significantly higher in G1. The frequency of atypical features on multimodal imaging did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION Individual clinical/demographic functional testing and multimodal imaging features should be considered when counseling patients about the probability of identifying disease-causing variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Marques
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto (CHUP), Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Geada
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Medical Genetics, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Menéres
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto (CHUP), Porto, Portugal.,Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Murta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Saraiva
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Medical Genetics, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rufino Silva
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
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Marques JP, Porto FBO, Carvalho AL, Neves E, Chen R, Sampaio SAM, Murta J, Saraiva J, Silva R. EYS-Associated Sector Retinitis Pigmentosa. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2021. [PMID: 34568954 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05411-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Sector retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a rare form of rod-cone degeneration typically associated with mutations in the RHO gene. We describe six unrelated patients presenting with this atypical phenotype in association with biallelic mutations in EYS gene. METHODS Multinational, multicentre cross-sectional case series. Patients with biallelic disease-causing variants in EYS and a clinical diagnosis of sector RP were recruited from specialized centres in Portugal and Brazil. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination complemented by deep phenotyping. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all probands and available relatives for genetic analysis. Genetic counselling was provided to all subjects. RESULTS Seven disease-causing variants (4 pathogenic; 3 likely pathogenic) were identified in 6 unrelated female patients. Best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 75 to 85 ETDRS letters. All eyes showed bilateral and symmetrical areas of outer retinal atrophy distributed along the inferior vascular arcades and extending temporally and/or nasally in a crescent-shaped pattern. On fundus autofluorescence (AF), a foveal-sparing curvilinear band of hyperAF encroaching the optic nerve head and extending temporally was seen in 4 patients. The remaining 2 presented bilateral and symmetrical patches of hypoAF inside crescent-shaped areas of hyperAF along the inferior temporal vascular arcade. Visual field testing revealed superior visual field defects of varying extents, always in close association with the fundus AF findings. CONCLUSIONS Even though EYS has only recently been listed as a cause of the sector RP phenotype, we believe that this presentation is not infrequent and should be considered an important differential for sector RP.
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Muns SM, Montalvo LA, Vargas Del Valle JG, Martinez M, Oliver AL, Izquierdo NJ. Clinical characteristics and ultra-widefield fundus image analysis of two siblings with Bardet-Biedl syndrome type 1 p.Met390Arg variant. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2020; 20:100914. [PMID: 33015405 PMCID: PMC7522087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2020.100914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To present the case of two siblings with a genetic diagnosis of Bardet Biedl syndrome (BBS) type 1, yet different clinical profiles and disease manifestations. Observations Sequencing analysis revealed a p.Met390Arg pathogenic variant in the BBS1 gene of both patients, as well as several additional variants of uncertain significance Patient 1 was 41 years old, had three primary (cone-rod dystrophy, hypogonadism, and truncal obesity) and three secondary (arterial hypertension, strabismus, and astigmatism) BBS features. He also had insulin resistance, as well as low levels of total testosterone and cortisol. Patient 2 was 43 years old, had two primary (cone-rod dystrophy and truncal obesity), and four secondary (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, strabismus, and astigmatism) BBS features. Both patients had severe maculopathy; however, patient 1 had bone-spicules that extended up to the mid-periphery, in a perivenular pattern, and significant vascular attenuation with "ghost vessel" appearance towards the temporal periphery, a feature that was absent on patient 2. Conclusions and Importance The intrafamilial phenotypic variability among our patients supports the hypothesis that BBS is a disease with genetic, hormonal, and environmental triggers interacting to produce phenotypic variability. Although our report may not establish a definite relationship between environmental and genetic influences, their role should be explored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Muns
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
| | - Lorena A Montalvo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
| | - Jose G Vargas Del Valle
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
| | - Meliza Martinez
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
| | - Armando L Oliver
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
| | - Natalio J Izquierdo
- Department of Surgery, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, 00936-5067, USA
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