optic atrophy

Spinocerebellar Ataxia 7

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Pigmentary changes in the retina are somewhat variable but often begin with a granular appearance in the macula and spread into the periphery.  The macula often becomes atrophic and dyschromatopsia is common.   Retinal thinning is evident, especially in the macula.  Decreased visual acuity and loss of color vision are early symptoms and the ERG shows abnormalities of both rod and cone function.  External ophthalmoplegia without ptosis is a frequent sign.  Most adults and some children eventually are blind. 

Systemic Features: 

Symptoms of developmental delay and failure to thrive may appear in the first year of life followed by loss of motor milestones.  Dysarthria and ataxia are nearly universal features while pyramidal and extrapyramidal signs are more variable.  This can be a rapidly progressive disease and children who develop symptoms by 14 months are often deceased before two years of age.  However, adults with mild disease can survive into the 5th and 6th decades.  Peripheral neuropathy with sensory loss and motor deficits are usually present to some degree but the range of clinical disease is wide.  Cognitive decline and some degree of dementia occur sometimes. 

Genetics

Spinocerebellar ataxia 7 is caused by expanded trinucleotide repeats (CAG) in the ATXN7 gene (3p21.1-p12) and inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.  The number of repeats is variable and correlated with severity of disease.  Most patients with 36 or more repeats have significant disease. This disorder is sometimes classified as a progressive cone-rod dystrophy.  It is sometimes referred to as olivopontocerebellar atrophy type III or OPCA3.

This disorder exhibits genetic anticipation especially with paternal transmission as succeeding generations often have earlier onset with more severe and more rapidly progressive disease. This is explained by the fact that younger generations tend to have a larger number of repeats and sometimes the diagnosis is made in children before the disease appears in parents or grandparents.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (164400) is a similar autosomal dominant disorder with many of the same clinical and genetic features.  It is caused by excess CAG repeats on the ATXN1 gene on chromosome 6. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment is known for the disease.  Low vision aids and mobility training may be useful in early stages. 

References
Article Title: 

GM1 Gangliosidosis

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Based on clinical manifestations, three types have been described: type I or infantile form, type II or late-infantile/juvenile form, and type III or adult/chronic form but all are due to mutations in the same gene.  Only the infantile form has the typical cherry red spot in the macula but is present in only about 50% of infants.  The corneal clouding is due to intracellular accumulations of mucopolysaccharides in corneal epithelium and keratan sulfate in keratocytes.  Retinal ganglion cells also have accumulations of gangliosides.  Decreased acuity, nystagmus, strabismus and retinal hemorrhages have been described. 

Systemic Features: 

Infants with type I disease are usually hypotonic from birth but develop spasticity, psychomotor retardation, and hyperreflexia within 6 months.  Early death from cardiopulmonary disease or infection is common.  Hepatomegaly, coarse facial features, brachydactyly, and cardiomyopathy with valvular dysfunction are common.  Dermal melanocytosis has also been described in infants in a pattern some have called Mongolian spots.  Skeletal dysplasia is a feature and often leads to vertebral deformities and scoliosis.  The ears are often large and low-set, the nasal bridge is depressed, the tongue is enlarged and frontal bossing is often striking.  Hirsutism, coarse skin, short digits, and inguinal hernias are common.

The juvenile form, type II, has a later onset with psychomotor deterioration, seizures and skeletal changes apparent between 7 and 36 months and death in childhood.  Visceral involvement and cherry-red spots are usually not present. 

Type III, or adult form, is manifest later in the first decade or even sometime by the 4th decade.  Symptoms and signs are more localized.  Neurological signs are evident as dystonia or speech and gait difficulties.  Dementia, parkinsonian signs, and extrapyramidal disease are late features.  No hepatosplenomegaly, facial dysmorphism, or cherry red spots are present in most individuals. Lifespan may be normal in this type. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease secondary to a mutations in GLB1 (3p21.33).  It is allelic to Morquio B disease (MPS IVB) (253010).  The mutations in the beta-galactosidase-1 gene result in intracellular accumulation of GM1 ganglioside, keratan sulfate, and oligosaccharides.  The production of the enzyme varies among different mutations likely accounting for the clinical heterogeneity. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment that effectively alters the disease course. 

References
Article Title: 

Cone-Rod Dystrophies, X-Linked

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Three X-linked forms of progressive cone-rod dystrophies each with mutations in different genes have been identified.  Central vision is often lost in the second or third decades of life but photophobia is usually noted before vision loss.  Cones are primarily involved but rod degeneration occurs over time.  The ERG reveals defective photopic responses early followed by a decrease in rod responses.   All three types are rare disorders affecting primarily males with symptoms of decreased acuity, photophobia, loss of color vision, and myopia.  The color vision defect early is incomplete but progressive cone degeneration eventually leads to achromatopsia.    Peripheral visual fields are usually full until late in the disease when constriction and nightblindness are evident.  The retina may have a tapetal-like sheen.  RPE changes in the macula often give it a granular appearance and there may be a bull's-eye configuration.   Fine nystagmus may be present as well.  The optic nerve often has some pallor beginning temporally.  Carrier females can have some diminished acuity, myopia, RPE changes, and even photophobia but normal color vision and ERG responses at least among younger individuals.

There is considerable variation in the clinical signs and symptoms in the X-linked cone-rod dystrophies among both affected males and heterozygous females.  Visual acuity varies widely and is to some extent age dependent.  Vision can be normal into the fourth and fifth decades but may reach the count fingers level after that. 

Systemic Features: 

None.

Genetics

Mutations in at least 3 genes on the X chromosome cause X-linked cone-rod dystrophy.

CORDX1 (304020) is caused by mutations in an alternative exon 15 (ORG15) of the RPGR gene (Xp11.4) which is also mutant in several forms of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (300455, 300029).  These disorders are sometimes considered examples of X-linked ocular disease resulting from a primary ciliary dyskinesia (244400).

CORDX2 (300085) is caused by mutations in an unidentified gene at Xq27.  A single family has been reported.

CORDX3 (300476) results from mutations in CACNA1F.  Mutations in the same gene also cause a form of congenital stationary night blindness, CSNB2A (300071).  The latter, however, is a stationary disorder with significant nightblindness and mild dyschromatopsia, often with an adult onset, and is associated with high myopia. Aland Island Eye Disease (300600) is another allelic disorder.   

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

There is no treatment for these dystrophies but red-tinted lenses provide comfort and may sometimes improve acuity to some extent.  Low vision aids can be helpful. 

References
Article Title: 

Hurler and Scheie Syndromes (MPS IH, IS, IH/S)

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Progressive corneal clouding is a major feature and appears early in life.  Intracellular accumulations of heparan and dermatan sulfate are responsible for the ground glass appearance.  However, congenital glaucoma also occurs in MPS I and must be considered as a concomitant cause of a diffusely cloudy cornea.

Abnormal storage of mucopolysaccharides has been found in all ocular tissues and in the retina leads to a pigmentary retinopathy.  The ERG may be abolished by 5 or 6 years of age.  Papilledema is often followed by optic atrophy.  Photophobia is a common symptom.  Shallow orbits give the eyes a prominent appearance.

Systemic Features: 

This group of lysosomal deficiency diseases is probably the most common.  MPS I is clinically heterogeneous encompassing three clinical entities: Hurler, Hurler-Scheie, and Scheie.  In terms of clinical severity, Hurler is the most severe and Scheie is the mildest.  Infants generally appear normal at birth and develop the typical coarse facial features in the first few months of life.  Physical growth often stops at about 2 years of age.  Skeletal changes of dysostosis multiplex are often seen and kyphoscoliosis is common as vertebrae become flattened.  The head is large with frontal bossing and a depressed nasal bridge.  Cranial sutures, especially the metopic and sagittal sutures, often close prematurely.  The lips are prominent and an open mouth with an enlarged tongue is characteristic.  The neck is often short.  Odontoid hypoplasia increases the risk of vertebral subluxation and cord compression.  Joints are often stiff and arthropathy eventually affects all joints.  Claw deformities of the hands and carpal tunnel syndrome are common.  Most patients are short in stature and barrel-chested.

Cardiac valves often are thickened and endocardial fibroelastosis is frequently seen.  The coronary arteries are often narrowed.  Respiratory obstructions are common and respiratory infections can be serious problems.  Hearing loss is common.

Most patients reach a maximum functional age of 2 to 4 years and then regress.  Language is limited.  Untreated, many patients die before 10 years of age.

Genetics

The Hurler/Scheie phenotypes are all the result of mutations in the IDUA gene (4p16.3).  They are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.  A deficiency in alpha-L-iduronidase causes three phenotypes: Hurler (607014; MPS IH), Hurler-Scheie (607015; MPS IH/S), and Scheie (607016; MPS IS) syndromes.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Various treatments have had some success.  Enzyme replacement using laronidase (Aldurazyme©) has been shown to reduce organomegaly and improve motor and respiratory functions.  It has been used alone and in combination with bone marrow transplantation but therapeutic effects are greater if given to younger patients.  It does not improve skeletal defects or corneal clouding.  MRI imaging has documented improvement in CNS signs.  Gene therapy has shown promise but remains experimental.  Regular lifelong monitoring is important using a multidisciplinary approach to identify potential problems.  Joint problems may be surgically correctable with special emphasis on the need for atlanto-occipital stabilization.  Corneal transplants may be helpful in the restoration of vision in selected patients.

References
Article Title: 

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

There is considerable clinical heterogeneity in this disorder.  Few patients have all of the clinical features and there is much variation in the severity of these.  Almost all segments of the eye can be involved.  The lashes are often lush and the eyebrows may be highly arched and bushy.  Lid fissures are often downward slanting (88%).  Congenital glaucoma, nystagmus, cataracts, lacrimal duct obstruction (37%), ptosis (29%), colobomas and numerous corneal abnormalities including keratoglobus, sclerocornea, and megalocornea have been reported.  Abnormal VEP waveforms and cone and cone-rod dysfunction have been found in the majority (78%) of patients tested.  Retinal pigmentary changes have been seen in some patients.  Refractive errors (usually myopia) occur in 56% of patients.  Visual acuities vary widely but about 20% of patients are visually handicapped.

Fluorescein angiography in a single patient revealed generalized vascular attenuation and extensive peripheral avascularity.  The AV transit time was prolonged with delayed venous filling and late small vessel leakage. 

Systemic Features: 

The facial features are reported to be characteristic but there are few distinctive signs.  The face is often broad and round, the nose is beaked, the mouth is small, and the lower lip appears to pout and protrudes beyond a short upper lip.  Smiles have been described as 'grimacing'.  It is common for the columella to protrude beyond the alae nasi.  The palate is narrow and highly arched and the laryngeal walls collapse easily which may lead to feeding problems and respiratory difficulties.  The ears may be rotated posteriorly.  The anterior hairline can appear low.

Among the more distinctive signs are the broad thumbs and great toes which are often deviated medially.  However, the distal phalanges of all fingers may be broad as well.  Bone fractures are common and patellar dislocations can be present as seen in the first two decades of life.  Hypotonia is a feature.  Numerous dental anomalies have been reported including crowded teeth, enamel hypoplasia, crossbite, and abnormal numbers of teeth.

Developmental delays are common.  Infancy and childhood milestones are often delayed.  Many patients have cognitive delays and some are mildly retarded.  Postnatal growth is subnormal and obesity is common.  A third of patients have a cardiac abnormality including septal defects, valvular defects, coarctation of the aorta, pulmonic stenosis, and patent ductus arteriosus.  Renal abnormalities occur frequently and almost all males have undescended testes.  Patients are at increased risk of tumors, both malignant and benign, many of which occur in the central nervous system.  Other problems are constipation and hearing loss.

Genetics

Evidence points to an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance secondary to mutations in CREBBP (16p13.3) but there is some genetic heterogeneity as mutations in EP300 (22q13) have been associated with a similar disease (see Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome 2; 613684).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is directed at specific clinical features such as glaucoma and strabismus.  Special education and vocational training may be helpful.  Hearing loss may respond to standard treatment.  Fractures and dislocations should receive prompt attention.  Cardiac anomalies may require surgical correction.

References
Article Title: 

Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Clinically evident retinal degeneration is present in a significant number (25-50%) of individuals.  However, when combined with ERG evidence the proportion rises to 68%.  When present it occurs early and one series reported that it is unlikely to appear later if it was not present early in the course of the neurodegeneration.  Some patients have a fleck-like retinopathy.  Optic atrophy may be present in advanced cases.

Systemic Features: 

This is a disorder primarily of the basal ganglia resulting from progressive damage secondary to iron accumulation.  There is an early onset classic form with symptoms of extrapyramidal disease beginning in the first decade of life and rapid progression to loss of ambulation in about 15 years.  Others with atypical disease may not have symptoms until the second or third decades.  Clumsiness, gait disturbance, and difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor coordination are common presenting symptoms.  Motor tics are often seen.  Dysarthria, dystonia, rigidity and corticospinal signs are often present early as well.  Swallowing difficulties may be severe sometimes leading to malnutrition.  Cognitive decline and psychiatric disturbances such as obsessive-compulsive behavior and depression may follow.  Independent ambulation is lost in the majority of patients within one to two decades.    Brain MRIs show an ‘eye of the tiger’ sign with a specific T2- weighted pattern of hyperintensity within the medial globus pallidus and the substantia nigra pars reticulata.

Genetics

Iron accumulation in the basal ganglia resulting from homozygous mutations in the PANK2 gene (20p13-12.3) encoding a pantothenate kinase leads to the classic form of this autosomal recessive disorder. 

This is the most common of several diseases of neurodegeneration with iron accumulation in the brain known collectively as NBIAs.  The group is genetically heterogeneous with many overlapping features.  Mutations in PLA2G6 cause NBIA2A (256600) and NBIA2B (610217) while mutations in a FLT gene cause NBIA3 (606159). The latter does not have apparent eye signs.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Pharmacologic treatment is aimed at alleviation of specific symptoms such as dystonia and spasticity.  Some symptoms may improve with deep brain stimulation.

References
Article Title: 

Tay-Sachs Disease

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Retinal ganglion cells become dysfunctional as a result of the toxic accumulation of intra-lysosomal GM2 ganglioside molecules causing early visual symptoms.  These cells in high density around the fovea centralis create a grayish-white appearance.  Since ganglion cells are absent in the foveolar region, this area retains the normal reddish appearance, producing the cherry-red spot.  Axonal decay and loss of the ganglion cells leads to optic atrophy and blindness.

Systemic Features: 

Sandoff disease may be clinically indistinguishable from Tay-Sachs disease even though the same enzyme is defective (albeit in separate subunits A and B that together comprise the functional hexosaminidase enzyme).   The infantile form of this lysosomal storage disease is the most common.  Infants appear to be normal until about 3-6 months of age when neurological development slows and muscles become weak.  Seizures, loss of interest, and progressive paralysis begin after this together with loss of vision and hearing.  The facies are coarse and the tongue is enlarged.  An exaggerated startle response is considered an early and helpful sign in the diagnosis.  Hepatosplenomegaly is usually not present.  Among infants with early onset disease, death usually occurs by 3 or 4 years of age.     

Ataxia with spinocerebellar degeneration, motor neuron disease, and progressive dystonia are more common in individuals with later onset of neurodegeneration.  The juvenile and adult-onset forms of the disease also progress more slowly.

Genetics

Tay-Sachs disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the hexosaminidase A gene, HEXA, (15q23-q24).  The altered enzyme is unable to break down GM2 ganglioside which accumulates in lysosomes and leads to neuronal death.

A related form, clinically and biochemically similar to Tay-Sachs disease , is GM2-gangliosidosis (272750) but it is caused by mutations in GM2A (5q31.3-q33.1) with normal hexosaminidase A and B.  Sandhoff disease (268800) is clinically indistinguishable but caused by mutations in the beta subunit of hexosaminidase (HEXB) A and B at 5q13. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is largely supportive.  Anticonvulsant pharmaceuticals may help in the control of seizures but require frequent modifications as the neuronal degeneration progresses.  Airways and nutrition maintainence are important.

Application of gene therapy to cell cultures have shown promise in restoring enzyme function and may someday lead to human treatment. 

    

References
Article Title: 

Tay-Sachs disease

Fernandes Filho JA, Shapiro BE. Tay-Sachs disease. Arch Neurol. 2004 Sep;61(9):1466-8. Review.

PubMed ID: 
15364698

Optic Atrophy 3 and Cataracts

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

There is considerable variation in age of onset and severity of clinical disease.  Cataracts may be evident in the first decade of life but in most cases by the second decade.  They are usually described as anterior or posterior cortical opacities.  Progression of opacification is slow and most patients do not require removal until late adulthood and some never require surgery. Visual impairment from optic atrophy may be evident in infancy and some patients experience a worsening in late adulthood.  Visual acuity is highly variable.  Temporal pallor may be present in childhood or later.

Systemic Features: 

Neurologic signs such as tremor, extrapyramidal rigidity in the upper extremities, and ataxia are seldom present until after the age of 50 years.  However not all patients have neurologic disease.

Genetics

This disorder is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern as a result of a mutation in the OP3 gene (19q13.2-q13.3) encoding an inner membrane mitochondrial protein.  It is allelic to autosomal recessive optic atrophy-3, or 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type III (258501), sometimes called Behr early onset optic atrophy (210000). 

Optic atrophy 3 is less severe than in Behr optic atrophy and the presence of cataracts is an important distinguishing feature.  For these reasons, optic atrophy 3 is discussed as a separate disorder here.   However, the nosology remains unclear since not all individuals with Behr optic atrophy have 3-methylglutaric acidemia.  

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment is available for the optic atrophy.  Cataract surgery may be necessary for visually significant lens opacities.

References
Article Title: 

OPA3 gene mutations responsible for autosomal dominant optic atrophy and cataract

Reynier P, Amati-Bonneau P, Verny C, Olichon A, Simard G, Guichet A, Bonnemains C, Malecaze F, Malinge MC, Pelletier JB, Calvas P, Dollfus H, Belenguer P, Malthi?(r)ry Y, Lenaers G, Bonneau D. OPA3 gene mutations responsible for autosomal dominant optic atrophy and cataract. J Med Genet. 2004 Sep;41(9):e110.

PubMed ID: 
15342707

[On a heredo-familial disease combining cataract, optic atrophy, extrapyramidal symptoms and certain defects of Friedreich's disease]

GARCIN R, RAVERDY P, DELTHIL S, MAN HX, CHIMENES H. [On a heredo-familial disease combining cataract, optic atrophy, extrapyramidal symptoms and certain defects of Friedreich's disease. (Its nosological position in relation to the Behr's syndrome, the Marinesco-Sjogren syndrome and Friedreich's disease with ocular symptoms.]. Rev Neurol (Paris). 1961 May;104:373-9. French.

PubMed ID: 
13703570

Optic Atrophy 2, X-Linked

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Visual symptoms can begin in early childhood (males only) and vision deteriorates slowly.  All affected individuals have optic atrophy with acuities ranging from 20/30 to 20/100.  ERGs are usually normal whereas VEPs show prolonged latencies.  Color vision is variably defective and central scotomas are present.

Systemic Features: 

Some but not all patients have additional neurological signs including absent ankle jerks, hyperactive knee jerks, extensor plantar reflexes, dysarthria and dysdiadochokinesia.  Symptoms are usually minor.  Obligatory female carriers do not have optic atrophy or neurologic signs.  Mental retardation has been reported in a few patients.

Genetics

This is an X-linked recessive disorder secondary to a mutation in OPA2 (Xp11.4-p11.21). Only males are affected and female carriers are clinically normal.

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

No treatment is available for the optic atrophy.

References
Article Title: 

Krabbe Disease

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Subtle cherry red spots have been reported in one patient.  More than half (53%) have abnormal VEP response but the ERG is normal.  Optic atrophy with blindness is not uncommon but the full ocular phenotype remains unknown.  A 6-month-old male child had MRI T2 evidence of intracranial optic nerve hypertrophy which was attributed to an accumulation of globoid cells.

Systemic Features: 

There is considerable variation in the time of onset and rate of progression in Krabbe disease, even within families.  Patients with infantile disease may present with symptoms at about 6 months of life, while others are not diagnosed until late childhood or adolescence.  Some evidence of psychomotor retardation is often the first sign of disease with ataxia and limb spasticity soon following.  Irritability is an early sign.  Neurophysiologic studies often show abnormal nerve conduction and this has been documented even in newborns.  The disorder is one of progressive neurodegeneration of both central and peripheral nervous systems leading to weakness, seizures and loss of protective reflexes.  The MRI may reveal T2 hyperintensity in cerebral and cerebellar white matter, internal capsules and pyramidal tracts.  Infection and respiratory failure are responsible for most deaths.

The life-span of Infants with Krabbe disease is approximately one year while those with late-onset disease may not develop symptoms until almost any age and the clinical course is highly variable.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder secondary to mutations in the GALC gene (14q31) encoding the enzyme galactosylceramidase, important in the growth and maintenance of myelin.

One patient has been reported with ‘atypical’ Krabbe disease (611722) secondary to a homozygous mutation in the PSAP gene (10q22.1).  The infant had a deficiency of saposin A as well as decreased galactocerebrosidase activity in white blood cells

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Normal blood galactocerebrosidase can be restored and CNS deterioration may be delayed or improved with transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells or umbilical cord blood.   However, some patients have residual language deficits and mild to severe delays in motor function.  Results are better if treatment is commenced during infancy before development of symptoms.  These treatments are experimental and long range outcomes remain uncertain.

References
Article Title: 

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