congenital ophthalmoplegia

Fibrosis of Extraocular Muscles, CFEOM1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Hereditary CFEOM is a congenital, nonprogressive condition.  The eyes are usually fixed in the infraducted position about 20-30 degrees below the primary position.  Horizontal movement is absent or severely restricted.  Blepharoptosis is almost always present and patients exhibit a marked chin-up position of gaze.  Binocularity is usually absent.  Some patients have large amounts of astigmatism.  Amblyopia has been reported to occur on a refractive or strabismic basis.  However, careful examination of the optic nerve may reveal anomalies such as increased cupping, asymmetric cupping and hypoplasia and could be responsible for the reduced vision in some patients.

Neuropathologic studies in rare patients have shown defects in brainstem neural development including in one case absence of the superior division of the oculomotor nerve.  Fibrosis of extraocular muscles and Tenon's capsule as well as adhesions to the globe and between muscles have been described.   Anomalous insertions of EOMs may also occur.  An MRI can reveal atrophy of the levator palpebrae and the superior rectus muscles as well as absence or hypoplasia of the oculomotor and sometimes abducens nerves.  It is now considered that CFEOM disorders result from primary neuronal disease resulting in secondary myopathy. 

Systemic Features: 

Late onset gait abnormalities associated with MRI documented vermis atrophy have been reported in a single autosomal dominant pedigree.  The diagnosis of CFEOM1 was confirmed with molecular studies but only two older individuals aged 79 and 53 years had the cerebellar atrophy while a 33 year old in the same family had only CFEOM with no gait difficulties and no neuroimaging abnormalities.

Genetics

CFEOM1 is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the KIF21A gene located at 12q12.  This is considered the classic form of congenital, restrictive strabismus but other types such as CFEOM2 (602078) and CFEOM3 (600638, 609384) have also been reported.  CFEOM3 is a clinically heterogeneous autosomal dominant condition and the label is usually applied to individuals who do not meet the criteria for the other two types.  A rare subtype (CFEOM3B) is also due to mutations in the KIF21A gene.  CFEOM3A (600638) is caused by mutations in the TUBB3 gene (16q24) while CFEOM3C (609384) maps to 13q.

The CFEOM2 (602078) phenotype is due to mutations in the PHOX2A (ARIX) gene and inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.

Other nonsyndromal forms of congenital fibrosis of extraocular muscles include: CFEOM3C (609384), CFEOM5 (616219), and CFEOM with synergistic divergence (609612).  See also Tukel CFEOM syndrome (609428).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Normal ocular movements cannot be restored but large recessions of the inferior recti followed by frontalis suspension of the upper eyelids can improve severe ptosis and the compensatory chin-up gaze. Corneal lubrication must be maintained.  Refractive errors and amblyopia should be corrected.  

References
Article Title: 

Fibrosis of Extraocular Muscles, CFEOM2

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

This is a congenital, autosomal recessive, nonprogressive type of CFEOM which has been described in several consanguineous Middle Eastern families.  The responsible mutations are in a different gene than the one responsible for autosomal dominant CFEOM1 cases although some of the clinical features are similar.  However, in CFEOM2 the eyes are less likely to be infraducted and instead are often fixed in extreme abduction.  In addition, the phenotype is more variable with some eyes fixed in the 'neutral' position and others having more mobility than usually seen in CFEOM1 but the clinical heterogeneity is less than that seen in CFEOM3.  Ptosis is part of both phenotypes.  All patients have severe restrictions in ocular motility.  It has been suggested that CEFOM2 patients are likely to have involvement of both superior and inferior divisions of the oculomotor nerve whereas only the superior division is abnormal in CFEOM1.  Binocular vision is absent and amblyopia is common.  The pupils may be small and respond poorly to light. Refractive errors are common.

Based on visual field testing and ERG findings, it has been suggested that subnormal vision in CFEOM2 may be due to undescribed retinal dysfunction.  

Systemic Features: 

Mild facial muscle weakness may be apparent. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by homozygous mutations in the PHOX2A gene at 11q13.3-q13.4.  Another more common form of CFEOM is the autosomal dominant CFEOM1 type (135700) in which the primary fixed deviation is infraduction. The third type is CFEOM3 (600638, 609384) which is clinically more heterogeneous. 

Other nonsyndromal forms of congenital fibrosis of extraocular muscles include: CFEOM3C (609384), CFEOM5 (616219), and CFEOM with synergistic divergence (609612).  See also Tukel CFEOM syndrome (609428).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Restoration of normal ocular motility is difficult but cosmetic improvement is possible by correcting some of the ptosis with frontalis slings.  Corneal lubrication must be maintained and amblyopia should be treated. 

References
Article Title: 
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