retinal vascular attenuation

Retinitis Pigmentosa 47

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Onset of night blindness and field constriction symptoms occur during the 4th and 5th decades of life.  Pigmentary abnormalities of the retina are the hallmark of this condition.  Retinal thinning, bone spicule pigmentation, vascular attenuation, optic disc pallor, and pigmentary atrophy have all been noted.

In patients with the autosomal dominant form of this disease, rod function is severely impaired or absent as evidenced by ERG studies.  Cone responses are often reduced on an age-related basis and in the range of 85-95% below normal.  As expected, dark-adapted visual thresholds are elevated and visual fields are restricted peripherally.  Loss of vision is age-related but some individuals can retain acuities of 20/35 to 20/40 into their sixth decade.  It is more common for acuities to be in the range of 20/200 to 20/400 later in life.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic disease is associated with this disorder.

Genetics

Mutations in the SAG gene (2q37) are responsible for this form of RP.  Both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant modes of inheritance have been reported.

In one family with homozygous mutations a sib had features of Oguchi disease which also results from homozygous mutations in SAG.

Among Hispanic families in the southwestern US, heterozygous mutations in SAG are a common cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported for this disorder.

References
Article Title: 

A Novel Dominant Mutation in SAG, the Arrestin-1 Gene, Is a Common Cause of Retinitis Pigmentosa in Hispanic Families in the Southwestern United States

Sullivan LS, Bowne SJ, Koboldt DC, Cadena EL, Heckenlively JR, Branham KE, Wheaton DH, Jones KD, Ruiz RS, Pennesi ME, Yang P, Davis-Boozer D, Northrup H, Gurevich VV, Chen R, Xu M, Li Y, Birch DG, Daiger SP. A Novel Dominant Mutation in SAG, the Arrestin-1 Gene, Is a Common Cause of Retinitis Pigmentosa in Hispanic Families in the Southwestern United States. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 May 1;58(5):2774-2784.

PubMed ID: 
28549094

Retinal Dystrophy and Obesity

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The age of onset of symptoms is unknown but based on the report of a single family with three affected sibs, it may occur early in the second decade. Patients may note some loss of night vision and the visual fields are restricted.  The ERG responses are consistent with a generalized rod-cone dystrophy.  Fundoscopy reveals a generalized RPE atrophy together with arteriolar attenuation, peripheral pigmentary mottling and scattered white dots.  A nonspecific dyschromatopsia can be demonstrated but the fovea is relatively normal and central acuity is remarkably good.  Little is known about disease progression but an 18 year old male reported decreasing vision since the age of 11 years.  

Systemic Features: 

Obesity and a high BMI may be present.

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in the TUB gene (11p15) segregated with this disorder in a sibship from a consanguineous family.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Retinitis Pigmentosa 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Night blindness, the predominant presenting symptom, is often noted in the first decade of life but may not be a significant complaint until the third decade.  Concentric peripheral field loss likewise follows a similar timeline.  ERG responses progressively decrease in amplitude and may become undetectable in the second decade.  The retinal disease progresses relentlessly, albeit slowly, as the result of photoreceptor degeneration and most patients have severe visual handicaps by midlife but there is considerable clinical variation.  The pigmentary retinopathy is typical for classical retinitis pigmentosa with vascular attenuation, perivascular bone-spicule pigment clumping, optic atrophy, and generalized retinal atrophy with relative sparing of the macula early in the disease.  Lens opacities are common in late stages of the disease.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic disease is associated with the ocular disorder caused by mutations in RP1.

Genetics

Multiple heterozygous, homozygous, and compound heterozygous mutations in the RP1 gene (8q12.1), sometimes called the oxygen-regulated photoreceptor protein 1 or ORP1 gene, are responsible for this disorder.  The protein product is active specifically in retinal photoreceptors.  Retinitis pigmentosa 1 is generally considered to be an autosomal dominant disorder and accounts for 5-7% of dominantly inherited RP disease.  However, recent reports suggest that some mutations in RP1 are responsible for familial cases transmitted in an autosomal recessive pattern in which the clinical disease is more severe. 

More than 20 different mutant genes have been associated with autosomal dominant RP but many cases lack a family history suggesting additional genetic heterogeneity remains.  Reduced penetrance and variable expressivity characteristic of genetic disease likely contributes to the clinical heterogeneity as well.  For more about autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa, see Retinitis Pigmentosa, AD (180380, 268000).  

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Photoreceptor transplantation has been tried in a number of 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
Article Title: 
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