optic atrophy

Walker-Warburg Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The eyes are usually small and contain either retinal dysplasia or a congenital retinal detachment.  Colobomas, PHPV, cataracts, glaucoma, buphthalmos, anterior chamber dysgenesis, optic atrophy, and optic nerve hypoplasia have also been reported. 

Systemic Features: 

Hydrocephalus and congenital muscular dystrophy are the most important systemic features of these syndromes.  A Dandy-Walker malformation is often present.  Type II lissencephaly, cerebellar malformations and severe mental retardation are other features.  More variable signs include macro- or microcephaly, ventricular dilatation, cleft lip and/or palate, and congenital contractures.  WWS has a severe phenotype and death often occurs in the first year of life.  Brain histology shows severely disorganized cytoarchitecture and suggests a neuronal migration disorder. Microtia has been reported in several patients.

Most developmental milestones are delayed or never achieved and death may occur in early childhood. 

Genetics

The MDDGs (muscular dystrophy dystroglycanopathies) comprise a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of disorders (sometimes called muscle-eye-brain disease) of which the A types are more severe than the B types.  The mutant genes responsible are involved in glycosylation of DAG1 (alpha-dystroglycan). 

Types A1 (MDDGA1; 236670), B1 (MDDGB1; 613155) and C1 (MDDGC1; 609308) result from mutations in a gene known as POMT1 (9p34.1).  The muscular dystrophy in type C1 is of the limb-girdle type LGMD2K.

A2 (MDDGA2; 613150) is caused by mutations in POMT2 (14q24.3).  Mutations in POMT2 may also cause the less severe muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB) type B2 (MDDGB2; 613156), and a similar disease (C2) in which the muscle dystrophy is of the limb-girdle type LGMD2N and eye findings may be absent (MDDGC2; 613158).

Mutations in POMGNT1 (1p34-p33) cause type A3 (MDDGA3; 253280) and type B3 (MDDGB3; 613151).  The muscular dystrophy in B3 is of the limb-girdle type.  POMGNT1 mutations may be associated with congenital glaucoma, retinal dysplasia, and high myopia. Type C3 (MDDGC3; 613157), also with a limb-girdle type of muscular dystrophy (LGMD2O), is caused by mutations in POMGNT1 as well.

FKTN mutations cause type A4 MDDG (MDDGA4; 253800) associated with the Fukuyama type of congenital muscular dystrophy but they can also cause type B4 (MDDGB4; 613152) which does not have mental retardation, and type C4 (MDDGC4; 611588) with seizures and a limb-girdle type (LGMD2M) of muscular dystrophy.

Types A5 (MDDG5A; 613153) and B5 (MDDGB5; 606612) are the result of mutations in the FKRP gene (19q13.3).  Of the two the latter is the less severe and the muscular dystrophy is of the limb-girdle type.  The eyes may be microphthalmic and have retinal pigmentary changes and congenital glaucoma.

Type A6 (MDDGA6; 613154) and B6 (MGGDB6; 608840) are caused by mutations in the LARGE gene (22q12.3).  MDDGA7, or type A7 (614643) results from homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the ISPD gene.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment is available but early indications are that FKRP gene therapy restores functional glycosylation and improves muscle functions.

References
Article Title: 

Congenital muscular dystrophies with defective glycosylation of dystroglycan: a population study

Mercuri E, Messina S, Bruno C, Mora M, Pegoraro E, Comi GP, D'Amico A, Aiello C, Biancheri R, Berardinelli A, Boffi P, Cassandrini D, Laverda A, Moggio M, Morandi L, Moroni I, Pane M, Pezzani R, Pichiecchio A, Pini A, Minetti C, Mongini T, Mottarelli E, Ricci E, Ruggieri A, Saredi S, Scuderi C, Tessa A, Toscano A, Tortorella G, Trevisan CP, Uggetti C, Vasco G, Santorelli FM, Bertini E. Congenital muscular dystrophies with defective glycosylation of dystroglycan: a population study. Neurology. 2009 May 26;72(21):1802-9.

PubMed ID: 
19299310

RAB18 Deficiency

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Microphthalmia with microcornea, lens opacities, small and unresponsive pupils, and optic atrophy are the outstanding ocular features of this syndrome.  The eyes appear deeply set.  Some but not all have ERG evidence of rod and cone dysfunction.  The VEP is usually abnormal.  Short palpebral fissures have been described. 

Systemic Features: 

Patients with the micro syndrome have many somatic and neurologic abnormalities.  Infants usually have feeding problems that is sometimes accompanied by gastroesophageal reflux.  Some degree of psychomotor retardation and developmental delays is common.  Both spasticity and hypotonia have been described.  Some patients have seizures.  Facial hypertrichosis, anteverted ears, and a broad nasal bridge are often noted.   There may be absence of the corpus callosum while diffuse cortical and subcortical atrophy, microgyria, and pachygyria may be evident on MRI imaging.  Hypogenitalism may be a feature in both sexes.  Males may also have cryptorchidism and a micropenis while females can have hypoplasia of the labia minora and clitoris and a small introitus.  Microcephaly is inconsistently present. 

Genetics

This is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by homozygous mutations in at least 4 genes: RAB3GAP1 (WARBM1), RAB3GAP2 (WARBM2), RAB18 (WARBM3), and TBC1D20 (WARBM4).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment is available.  Vision remains subnormal even after cataracts are removed.  Nutrition may be improved with placement of a gastrostomy tube.

References
Article Title: 

New RAB3GAP1 mutations in patients with Warburg Micro Syndrome from different ethnic backgrounds and a possible founder effect in the Danish

Morris-Rosendahl DJ, Segel R, Born AP, Conrad C, Loeys B, Brooks SS, M?oller L,Zeschnigk C, Botti C, Rabinowitz R, Uyanik G, Crocq MA, Kraus U, Degen I, Faes F. New RAB3GAP1 mutations in patients with Warburg Micro Syndrome from different ethnic backgrounds and a possible founder effect in the Danish. Eur J Hum Genet. 2010 Oct;18(10):1100-6.

PubMed ID: 
20512159

Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Optic atrophy is a major ocular feature and the primary cause of visual impairment.  A minority (25%) of patients also have a diffuse fleck retinopathy with a bull’s eye maculopathy.  Later the retinopathy may resemble retinitis pigmentosa with a bone spicule pattern. Nystagmus is often present.  These signs usually follow systemic signs such as difficulties in locomotion.  An apraxia of eyelid opening has been noted and some patients have blepharospasm. 

Systemic Features: 

This is a progressive disorder of the basal ganglia with prominent symptoms of extrapyramidal dysfunction.  Onset is in early childhood or in the neonatal period with delayed development and sometimes mental retardation.  Choreoathetoid writhing movements, stuttering, dysphagia, muscle rigidity, and intermittent dystonia are prominent features.  Seizures are uncommon.  Older individuals may exhibit dementia and ambulation is eventually impaired.  The MRI usually shows an area of hyperintensity in the medial globus pallidus that has been called the ‘eye of the tiger’ sign but this is not pathognomonic.  Axonal degeneration with accumulation of spheroidal inclusions can be seen histologically. 

Genetics

The title of this disorder ‘neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation’ actually refers to a group of disorders with somewhat common characteristics.  Pentothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration or NB1A1 (234200) is  the most common of these. 

Types  NBIA2A (256600) and NBIA2B (610217) are caused by mutations in the PLA2G6 gene (22q13.1).  The former can be seen neonatally but usually has its onset in the first two years of life and is sometimes called infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy or Seitelberger disease.  Death may occur before the age of 10 years.  Signs of motor neuron and cerebellar disease are more prominent than in NB1A1. 

NBIA2B has a later onset (4-5 years) and profound sensorimotor impairment but there are many overlapping features and the nosology is confusing.  Mutations in the FTL gene cause yet another form designated NBIA3 (606159) but ocular signs seem to be absent. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is evidence that treatment with deferiprone reduces the amount of iron accumulation in the globus pallidus with motor improvement in at least some patients.  Most patients require supportive care.

References
Article Title: 

Cone Dystrophy, Peripheral

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Several families have been reported in which rod function was normal while cone function was impaired, more so peripherally than centrally.  Visual acuity ranges from normal to 20/200.  Color vision may be normal in some patients while others have some degree of dyschromatopsia.  Full-field ERG cone responses are reduced significantly but focal macular cone ERGs are normal.   Visual fields are normal except for small paracentral scotomas.  Temporal pallor has been noted in the optic discs of 2 patients.  Cone responses on ERG were demonstrated to decrease in one patient during a 4 year interval.  Photophobia as commonly seen in cone-rod dystrophies was not reported.  No abnormalities are seen on fundus examination or fluorescein angiography. 

Systemic Features: 

No systemic disease has been reported. 

Genetics

No responsible mutation has been reported.  Two of the three reported patients were siblings born to presumably unaffected parents, compatible with autosomal recessive inheritance. 

It is questionable whether a 'pure' cone dystrophy exists as most patients have evidence (at least eventually) of both rod and cone disease.  However, an autosomal dominant form of cone dystrophy (602093) has been reported in which cone dysfunction predominates and evidence of rod damage occurs much later.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available but visual function can be enhanced with low vision aids.  

References
Article Title: 

Peripheral cone disease

Pinckers A, Deutman AF. Peripheral cone disease. Ophthalmologica. 1977;174(3):145-50.

PubMed ID: 
854266

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

Pierson Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Microcoria is the most consistent ocular feature but is not present in some families.  It is congenital and sometimes seen with iris hypoplasia.  Glaucoma and lens opacities (including posterior lenticonus sometimes) are present in one-fourth of patients.  Corneal size varies with some patients having apparent macrocornea which can lead to the mistaken diagnosis of buphthalmos.  Pigment mottling and clumping is common in the retina and the ERG can show changes characteristic of cone-rod dystrophy.  Retinal thinning is often present as well.  Non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachments occur in 24% of patients and optic atrophy is seen in some individuals.  There is considerable interocular, intrafamilial, and interfamilial variability in these signs. 

Systemic Features: 

The primary and most consistent systemic problem is progressive renal disease. Congenital nephrotic syndrome with proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hypertension is characteristic.  Renal failure eventually occurs although the rate of progression varies. Most patients require a renal transplant for end-stage kidney disease in the first decade of life.  Kidney histology shows glomerulosclerosis, peritubular scarring, and diffuse mesangial sclerosis.  Hypotonia and muscle weakness are sometimes present and congenital myasthenia has been reported.  Severe global psychomotor retardation is common and many infants never achieve normal milestones. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from homozygous mutations in the LAMB2 gene located at 3p21.  The normal gene encodes laminin beta-2 that is strongly expressed in intraocular muscles which may explain the hypoplasia of ciliary and pupillary muscles in Pierson syndrome.  Mutations in this gene are often associated with nephronophthisis but ocular abnormalities are not always present. 

Microcoria is also a feature of the autosomal dominant ocular condition known as congenital microcoria (156600).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Kidney replacement can restore renal function.  Glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachments require the usual treatment but patient selection is important due to the neurological deficits.  Lifelong monitoring is essential. 

References
Article Title: 

Ocular findings in a case of Pierson syndrome with a novel mutation in laminin ß2 gene

Arima M, Tsukamoto S, Akiyama R, Nishiyama K, Kohno RI, Tachibana T, Hayashida A, Murayama M, Hisatomi T, Nozu K, Iijima K, Ohga S, Sonoda KH. Ocular findings in a case of Pierson syndrome with a novel mutation in laminin ss2 gene. J AAPOS. 2018 Aug 16. pii: S1091-8531(18)30497-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2018.03.016. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
30120985

Ophthalmological aspects of Pierson syndrome

Bredrup C, Matejas V, Barrow M, Bl?deghov?deg K, Bockenhauer D, Fowler DJ, Gregson RM, Maruniak-Chudek I, Medeira A, Mendon?ssa EL, Kagan M, Koenig J, Krastel H, Kroes HY, Saggar A, Sawyer T, Schittkowski M, Swietli?Nski J, Thompson D, VanDeVoorde RG, Wittebol-Post D, Woodruff G, Zurowska A, Hennekam RC, Zenker M, Russell-Eggitt I. Ophthalmological aspects of Pierson syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol. 2008 Oct;146(4):602-611.

PubMed ID: 
18672223

Cone-Rod Dystrophies, AD and AR

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Cone-rod dystrophies (CRD) are a group of pigmentary retinopathies that have early and important changes in the macula.  Cone dysfunction occurs first and is often followed by rod photoreceptor degeneration.

Common initial symptoms are decreased visual acuity, dyschromatopsia, and photophobia which are often noted in the first decade of life.  Night blindness occurs later as the disease progresses.  A fine nystagmus is also common. Visual field defects include an initial central scotoma with patchy peripheral defects followed by larger defects in later stages.  The fundus exam can be normal initially, but is followed by pigmentary bone spicule changes, attenuation of retinal vessels, waxy pallor of the optic disc and retinal atrophy.  A ring maculopathy surrounding the fovea is usually evident.  The ERG first reveals photopic defects and later scotopic changes.  Fluorescein angiography and fundus autofluorescence generally reveal atrophic retinopathy.  Many patients eventually become legally blind as the disease progresses and some end up with no light perception.

Cone-rod dystrophies are a group of disorders separate from rod-cone dystrophies where the primary defect is in the rod photoreceptors with typical pigmentary changes in the peripheral retina. The progression of vision loss is generally slower in rod-cone dystrophies. Cone dystrophies comprise another group of disorders with exclusive cone involvement in which the macula often has a normal appearance in association with loss of central acuity.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic disease is associated with simple cone-rod dystrophies.  See below for syndromal disorders with cone-rod dystrophy. 

Genetics

Non-syndromic cone-rod dystrophies can be either autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked and are caused by defects in at least 17 different genes.  This database entry discusses only the autosomal disorders.  See X-linked cone-rod dystrophies in a separate entry.

Cone-rod dystrophies inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern include:

CORD2 (120970) is caused by mutations in CRX at 19q13.3, a homeobox gene responsible for the development of photoreceptor cells.  These are responsible for 5-10% of autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy cases (602225) and can also cause one type (LCA7) of Leber congenital amaurosis (602225) and a late-onset retinitis pigmentosa phenotype.

CORD5 (600977) is caused by mutations in the PITPNM3 gene at 17p13.1. 

CORD6 (601777) is caused by a mutation in GUCY2D in a similar location on chromosome 17. 

CORD7 (603649) is caused by mutations in RIMS1 at 6q12-q13.

Mutations in AIPL1 (604392), located in the same region, usually causes a form of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA4) as well as retinitis pigmentosa (604393) but has also been reported in a cone-rod pigmentary retinopathy.

CORD11 (610381) is caused by mutations in RAXL1 (19p13.3).

CORD12 (612657) results from mutations in the PROM1 gene (4p15.3).

Mutations in the gene GUCA1A on chromosome 6p21.1 causes CORD14 (602093).

An as yet unclassified autosomal dominant type of cone-rod dystrophy has recently been localized to 10q26.

Cone-rod dystrophies inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern include:

Mutations in ABCA4 at 1p21-p13 is responsible for 30-60% of cases of autosomal recessive CRD (CORD3; 604116) .  ABCA4 is also known to cause autosomal recessive Stargardt disease.

CORD8 (605549) has been found in a single consanguineous family and the mutation localized to 1q12-q24.

ADAM9 (602713) at 8p11 and 8p11.23 contains mutations that have been shown to cause autosomal recessive CORD9 in several consanguineous families.

Mutations in RPGRIP1 (14q11) are responsible for CORD13 (608194).

The CDHR1 gene (10q23.1) contains mutations that cause CORD15 (613660).

Other autosomal CRD disorders are CORD1 (600624) described in a single individual and possibly those due to mutations in HRG4 at 17q11.2 (604011).

Syndromal cone-rod dystrophies:

Cone-rod dystrophy may also be associated with other syndromes, such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome (209900), or spinocerebellar ataxia Type 7 (164500), autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta with cone-rod dystrophy or Jalili syndrome (217080), neurofibromatosis type I (162200), and hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy and alopecia (601553).  Metabolic disorders associated with cone-rod dystrophy include Refsum disease with phytanic acid abnormality (266500) and Alport syndrome (301050). 

Cone-Rod Dystrophy 19 (615860) has been associated with male infertility as the result of mutations in TTLL5 affecting both photoreceptors and sperm.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
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: 

A novel locus for autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy maps to chromosome 10q

Kamenarova K, Cherninkova S, Romero Dur?degn M, Prescott D, Vald?(c)s S?degnchez ML, Mitev V, Kremensky I, Kaneva R, Bhattacharya SS, Tournev I, Chakarova C. A novel locus for autosomal dominant cone-rod dystrophy maps to chromosome 10q. Eur J Hum Genet. 2012 Aug 29. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2012.158. [Epub ahead of print]

PubMed ID: 
22929024

Cone rod dystrophies

Hamel CP. Cone rod dystrophies. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2007 Feb 1;2:7. Review.

PubMed ID: 
17270046

Retinitis Pigmentosa, AR

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The term retinitis pigmentosa is applied to a large group of disorders with great clinical and genetic heterogeneity.  The ocular disease is characterized by night blindness, field constriction, and pigmentary changes in the retina.  The latter is sometimes described as having a ‘bone corpuscle’ appearance with a perivascular distribution.  A ring scotoma is usually evident.  Age of onset and rate of progression is highly variable, even within families.  The rods are impacted early but cone deterioration with loss of central vision usually follows.  Some patients complain of dyschromatopsia and photophobia.  The ERG generally documents this progression but the mfERG shows wide variations in central cone functioning.  Legal blindness is common by the 5thdecade of life or later.  The course of clinical and ERG changes is more aggressive in the X-linked form than in the autosomal dominant disease.  The final common denominator for all types is first rod and then cone photoreceptor loss through apoptosis.

As many as 50% of patients develop posterior subcapsular cataracts.  The vitreous often contains cells and particulate debris.   Retinal arterioles are often attenuated and the optic nerve may have a waxy pallor, especially late in the disease.  Occasional patients have cysts in the macula.  Some patients experience continuous photopsia. 

Systemic Features: 

The ‘simple’ or nonsyndromal type of RP described here has no systemic features.  However, the retinopathy is seen in a number of syndromes and, of course, in some infectious diseases as well.  It is more accurate to label the fundus finding as 'pigmentary retinopathy' in such cases.

Genetics

A significant proportion of RP cases occur sporadically, i.e., without a family history.  Mutations in more than 30 genes cause autosomal recessive RP disorders and these account for more than half of all cases of retinitis pigmentosa.  More than 100 mutations have been identified in the RHO gene (3q21-q24) alone.  Mutations in some genes cause RP in both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant inheritance patterns.  Compound heterozygosity is relatively common in autosomal recessive disease.  See OMIM 268000 for a complete listing of mutations.

Many genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa have also been implicated in other pigmentary retinopathies.  In addition, numerous phenocopies occur, caused by a variety of drugs, trauma, infections and numerous neurological disorders.  To make diagnosis even more difficult, the fundus findings and ERG responses in nonsyndromic RP in most patients are too nonspecific to be useful for classification. Extensive systemic and ocular evaluations are important and should be combined with genotyping in both familial and nonfamilial cases to determine the diagnosis and prognosis. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Photoreceptor transplantation has been tried in without improvement in central vision or interruption in the rate of vision loss.  Longer term results are needed.  Resensitizing photoreceptors with halorhodopsin using archaebacterial vectors shows promise in mice.  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 isotretinoin, sildenafil, and vitamin E. 

References
Article Title: 

Retinitis Pigmentosa, AD

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Retinitis pigmentosa is a large group of 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 may have 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 rods are impacted early but cone deterioration with loss of central vision usually follows.  Some patients complain of dyschromatopsia and photophobia.  The ERG generally documents this progression but the mfERG shows wide variations in central cone functioning.  Legal blindness is common by the 5thdecade of life or later.  The course of clinical and ERG changes is more aggressive in the X-linked form than in the autosomal dominant RHO disease.  The final common denominator for all types is first rod and then cone photoreceptor loss through apoptosis.

As many as 50% of patients develop posterior subcapsular cataracts.  The vitreous often contains cells and particulate debris.   Retinal arterioles are often attenuated and the optic nerve may have a waxy pallor, especially late in the disease.  Occasional patients have cysts in the macula.  Some patients experience continuous photopsia.  

Systemic Features: 

The 'simple' or nonsyndromal type of RP described here has no systemic features.  However, the retinopathy is seen in a number of syndromes and, of course, in trauma and in some infectious diseases as well. 

Genetics

A significant proportion of RP cases occur sporadically, i.e., without a family history.  Mutations in more than 25 genes cause autosomal dominant RP disorders and these account for about one-third of all cases of retinitis pigmentosa but there are many more specific mutations.  More than 100 have been identified in the RHO gene (3q21-q24) alone, for example.  Mutations in some genes cause RP in both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant inhritance patterns.  See OMIM 268000 for a complete listing of mutations.

Many genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa have also been implicated in other pigmentary retinopathies.  In addition numerous phenocopies occur, caused by a variety of drugs, trauma, infections and numerous neurological disorders.  To make diagnosis even more difficult, the fundus findings and ERG responses in nonsyndromic RP in most patients are too nonspecific to be useful for classification. Extensive systemic and ocular evaluations are important and should be combined with genotyping in both familial and nonfamilial cases to determine the diagnosis and prognosis. 

For autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa resulting from mutations in RP1, see Retinitis Pigmentosa 1 (180100). 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Photoreceptor transplantation has been tried in 8 patients without improvement in central vision or interruption in the rate of vision loss.  Longer term results are needed.  Resensitizing photoreceptors with halorhodopsin using archaebacterial vectors shows promise in mice.  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.  The use of oral and systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors 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 isotretinoin, sildenafil, and vitamin E. 

References
Article Title: 

Retinitis Pigmentosa 3, X-Linked

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Retinitis pigmentosa is a large group of 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 may have 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.  In this, an X-linked form of the disease, the first symptoms often appear early in the second decade of life.  The rods are impacted early but cone deterioration with loss of central vision usually follows.  Some patients complain of dyschromatopsia and photophobia.  The ERG generally documents this progression but the mfERG shows wide variations in central cone functioning.  Legal blindness is common by the 4thor 5thdecades of life.  The course of clinical and ERG changes is more aggressive in the X-linked form than in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa disease resulting from RHO mutations.  The final common denominator for all types is first rod and then cone photoreceptor loss through apoptosis.

Up to 50% of adults develop cataracts beginning in the posterior subcapsular area.  The vitreous often contains cells and some patients have cystoid macular edema.  A waxy pallor of the optic nerve is sometimes present especially in the later stages of the disease.

Female carriers generally are asymptomatic but may also have severe RP.  Occasionally they have an unusual tapetal reflex consisting of a ‘beaten metal’ appearance or sometimes scintillating, golden patches. 

Systemic Features: 

There is no systemic disease in ‘simple’ or non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa but pigmentary retinopathy is associated with a number of syndromes (syndromal RP) e.g.,  Usher syndromes, Waardenburg syndrome, Alport syndrome, Refsum disease, Kerns-Sayre syndrome, abetalipoproteinemia, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, mucopolysaccharidoses types I, II, III, and Bardet-Biedl syndromes. 

The RPGR gene is important to the normal function of cilia throughout the body.  For this reason disorders resulting from RPGR mutations such as CORDX1 (304020) and this one are sometimes classified as primary ciliary dyskinesias or ciliopathies.  The gene products of the RPGR gene, for example, are localized to connecting cilia of the outer segments of rods and cones and in motile cilia in the airway epithelia.  A subset of families with RP3 have chronic and recurrent upper respiratory infections including sinusitis, bronchitis, pulmonary atelectasis, and otitis media (300455) similar to that seen in the immotile cilia syndrome (244400).  Female carriers in these families have few retinal changes but may suffer recurrent and severe upper respiratory infections similar to hemizygous males.  Severe hearing loss also occurs in both sexes with the RPGR mutations and there is some evidence that this may be a primary sensorineural problem, perhaps in addition to conductive loss from recurrent otitis media.

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.  Perhaps 70% of X-linked RP is caused by mutations in RPGR (Xp11.4) as in this condition.  The same gene is mutant in one form of X-linked cone-rod dystrophy (CORDX1; 304020). These  disorders are sometimes considered examples of X-linked ocular disease resulting from a primary ciliary dyskinesia (244400).

Another form of X-linked RP (RP2) with more choroidal involvement is caused by mutations in the RP2 gene (312600 ; Xp11.23). 

Many genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa have also been implicated in other pigmentary retinopathies.  In addition numerous phenocopies occur, caused by a variety of drugs, trauma, infections and numerous neurological disorders.  To make diagnosis even more difficult, the fundus findings and ERG responses in nonsyndromic RP in most patients are too nonspecific to be useful for classification. Extensive systemic and ocular evaluations are important and should be combined with genotyping in both familial and nonfamilial cases to determine the diagnosis and prognosis. 

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Photoreceptor transplantation has been tried in 8 patients without improvement in central vision or interruption in the rate of vision loss.  Longer term results are needed.  Resensitizing photoreceptors with halorhodopsin using archaebacterial vectors shows promise in mice.  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 isotretinoin, sildenafil, and vitamin E. 

References
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