cone-rod dystrophy

Retinitis Pigmentosa 77

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The onset of nyctalopia apparently varies from early childhood to 20 years of age and is usually the presenting symptom.  The loss of acuity is progressive (20/30 to 20/400) with older patients generally having more severe loss but there is little direct correlation with age.  Peripheral fields are progressively constricted, ranging from 10 to 30 degrees.  Some patients develop posterior subcapsular cataracts.  Retinal pigmentation is often mottled but 'bone spicules' are seen in about half of individuals.  Retinal vessels are narrowed.  The ERG shows generalized rod-cone dystrophy.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic abnormalities have been reported.

Genetics

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the REEP6 gene (19p13.3) are responsible for this disorder.  Five unrelated families have been reported.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported although cataract removal may be visually beneficial.  

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in REEP6 Cause Autosomal-Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa

Arno G, Agrawal SA, Eblimit A, Bellingham J, Xu M, Wang F, Chakarova C, Parfitt DA, Lane A, Burgoyne T, Hull S, Carss KJ, Fiorentino A, Hayes MJ, Munro PM, Nicols R, Pontikos N, Holder GE; UKIRDC., Asomugha C, Raymond FL, Moore AT, Plagnol V, Michaelides M, Hardcastle AJ, Li Y, Cukras C, Webster AR, Cheetham ME, Chen R. Mutations in REEP6 Cause Autosomal-Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa. Am J Hum Genet. 2016 Dec 1;99(6):1305-1315.

PubMed ID: 
27889258

Danon Disease

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular features of Danon disease are less well known than the systemic manifestations and are as yet not fully delineated likely because not all patients have visual symptoms or fundus changes.  The most commonly described fundus abnormalities are pigmentary changes variously called a peripheral pigmentary retinopathy or a pigmentary atrophy in some cases.   Changes in pigmentation may be mild in both affected males and carrier females, but are generally more severe in males.  A bulls-eye maculopathy and color vision deficiencies have been described.  Loss of visual acuity is variable and may lead to symptoms before myopathy is evident.  Vision loss is usually progressive and may be reduced to hand motions.  OCT shows thinning of the photoreceptor and RPE layers.  The full field ERG is reduced in amplitude consistent with a generalized cone-rod dystrophy.

Systemic Features: 

This disorder, originally believed to be a type of glycogen storage disease, is actually a form of autophagic vacuolar myopathy.    The characteristic vacuoles are found in muscle cytoplasm surrounded by sarcolemmal proteins and basal lamina.  The primary extraocular disease occurs in the myocardium although skeletal muscle may also be involved.  Intellectual disability is a variable and inconsistent feature.  

Cardiac rhythm abnormalities are common and include AV nodal block, atrial fibrillation, and Wolff-Parkinson-White EKG findings.  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (and sometimes dilated cardiomyopathy) with primary involvement of the left ventricle is common.  Symptoms typically occur in males before the age of 20 years and somewhat later in females.

Some patients have muscular weakness and exercise intolerance.  Diagnosis can be made when the characteristic vacuoles are present in a muscle biopsy but their absence does not rule out the diagnosis.

Genetics

This is an X-linked dominant disorder caused by mutations in LAMP2 (Xp24).  Females are generally less severely affected than males. Most men with Danon disease have some intellectual disability as well as skeletal myopathy but these features are found in less than half of affected women.  

Pedigree: 
X-linked dominant, father affected
X-linked dominant, mother affected
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No known treatment is available for the ocular disease.  Transplantation can be an effective treatment for the cardiomyopathy which can be lethal even in adolescents.

References
Article Title: 

Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with Danon disease

Konrad T, Sonnenschein S, Schmidt FP, Mollnau H, Bock K, Ocete BQ, Munzel T, Theis C, Rostock T. Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with Danon disease. Europace. 2016 Oct 14. pii: euw215.

PubMed ID: 
27742774

Cone-rod dystrophy in Danon disease

Brodie S. Cone-rod dystrophy in Danon disease. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2012 Mar 10. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
22407291

Retinitis Pigmentosa 2, X-Linked

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Retinitis pigmentosa consists of a group disorders with great clinical and genetic heterogeneity.  The ocular disease is characterized by night blindness, field constriction, and pigmentary changes in the retina.  The later is sometimes described as having a 'bone corpuscle' appearance with a perivascular distribution.  A ring scotoma is sometimes evident.  Age of onset and rate of progression is highly variable, even within families.

The X-linked form described here is a pigmentary retinopathy but sometimes labeled chorioretinal degeneration because of the extensive involvement of the choroid.  The clinical picture is sometimes referred to by the out-dated term 'choroidal sclerosis'.  It is often apparent in males during early childhood and they usually have early deterioration in central vision.  Some carrier females experience vision loss and have mild fundus abnormalities but these do no usually appear until middle age and are usually slowly progressive.  The ERG shows abnormalities in both sexes but these are highly variable.  Older males may have a waxy pallor of the optic nerve.  Posterior subcapsular cataracts are common.  The vitreous may contain fine, colorless particles even before fundus changes are evident.  Prognosis is highly variable but many patients eventually become legally blind by the age of 30 years.

Systemic Features: 

None.

Genetics

Mutations in more than 100 genes may be responsible for retinitis pigmentosa but sporadic disease occurs as well.  Between 5 and 10% of individuals have X-linked disease.

In this form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa mutations in RP2 (Xp11.3) have been found.  The frequent occurrence of mild disease in females can cause diagnostic confusion with autosomal dominant RP but the disease in females in the latter disorder is usually as severe as in males.

This type of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa is far less common than RP3 (300029)caused by mutations in RPGR.  The two are clinically similar and genotyping is necessary to distinguish them.

Pedigree: 
X-linked recessive, carrier mother
X-linked recessive, father affected
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

High doses of vitamin A palmitate slow the rate of vision loss but plasma levels and liver function need to be checked at least annually.  Oral acetazolamide can be helpful in reducing macular edema.  Low vision aids and mobility training can be facilitating for many patients.  Cataract surgery may restore several lines of vision at least temporarily.

Several pharmaceuticals should be avoided, including isotretinioin, sildenafil, and vitamin E.

References
Article Title: 

Comprehensive survey of mutations in RP2 and RPGR in patients affected with distinct retinal dystrophies: genotype-phenotype correlations and impact on genetic counseling

Pelletier V, Jambou M, Delphin N, Zinovieva E, Stum M, Gigarel N, Dollfus H, Hamel C, Toutain A, Dufier JL, Roche O, Munnich A, Bonnefont JP, Kaplan J, Rozet JM. Comprehensive survey of mutations in RP2 and RPGR in patients affected with distinct retinal dystrophies: genotype-phenotype correlations and impact on genetic counseling. Hum Mutat. 2007 Jan;28(1):81-91.

PubMed ID: 
16969763

Jalili Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Symptoms of photophobia and reduced vision are present in the first years of life.  Pendular nystagmus is common.  Color vision is defective and is characterized by some as a form of achromatopsia, perhaps better described as dyschromatopsia.  Reduced night vision is noted by the end of the first decade of life.  OCT reveals reduced foveal and retinal thickness.  The macula appears atrophic with pigment mottling and the peripheral retina can resemble retinitis pigmentosa with bone spicule pigment changes.  Retinal vessels may be narrow.  The ERG shows reduced responses in both photopic and scotopic recordings.  This form of rod-cone dystrophy is progressive with central acuity decreasing with age. 

Systemic Features: 

The teeth are abnormally shaped and discolored from birth.  The amelogenesis imperfecta consists of hypoplasia and hypomineralization that is present in both deciduous and permanent teeth.  Tooth enamel is mineralized only to 50% of normal and is similar to that of dentine. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive condition caused by mutations in the CNNM4 gene at 2q11.2. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available for the ocular condition but red-tinted lenses and low vision aids may be helpful.  The teeth require dental repair. 

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in CNNM4 cause Jalili syndrome, consisting of autosomal-recessive cone-rod dystrophy and amelogenesis imperfecta

Parry DA, Mighell AJ, El-Sayed W, Shore RC, Jalili IK, Dollfus H, Bloch-Zupan A, Carlos R, Carr IM, Downey LM, Blain KM, Mansfield DC, Shahrabi M, Heidari M, Aref P, Abbasi M, Michaelides M, Moore AT, Kirkham J, Inglehearn CF. Mutations in CNNM4 cause Jalili syndrome, consisting of autosomal-recessive cone-rod dystrophy and amelogenesis imperfecta. Am J Hum Genet. 2009 Feb;84(2):266-73.

PubMed ID: 
19200525

Hypotrichosis with Juvenile Macular Degeneration

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Macular dystrophy usually becomes symptomatic before the second decade of life but retinal evidence of macular degeneration can be seen in the first decade.   EOG is usually normal while the ERG responses are decreased early and with time decrease further in amplitude.  Pattern reversal VEPs are significantly subnormal even while vision is relatively good.  Visual acuity decreases slowly in spite of significant deterioration of cone- and rod-mediated retinal function.  Retinal pigmentary changes consisting of irregular clumping and areas of hypopigmentation are evident in the macular and perimacular areas and sometimes beyond.  Most patients eventually become blind. 

Systemic Features: 

Scalp hair loss occurs during the first months of life but the alopecia does not affect eyebrows or eyelashes unlike that seen in the EEM disorder (225280)  which in addition has digital and dental anomalies.  Partial regrowth may occur during puberty.  Light and electron microscopy of hair shafts may reveal pili torti, longitudinal ridging with scaling, and fusiform beading but these are not present in all patients. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from homozygous mutations in the CDH3 gene located at 16q22.1.

EEM syndrome (225280) is an allelic disorder with similar hair and retinal features plus dental, digital and limb anomalies.  The hypotrichosis also involves the eyebrows and eyelashes in this disorder, however. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no known treatment for this disorder. 

References
Article Title: 
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