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Foveal Hypoplasia 2

OMIM ID:

autosomal recessive

Foveal Hypoplasia 2

Alternate Names

FVH2
foveal hypoplasia 2 with or without optic nerve misrouting and/or anterior segment dysgenesis

Defective Genes

SLC38A8

Clinical Characteristics

Ocular Features

The cardinal feature in this condition is foveal hypoplasia which is characterized by the lack of a foveal depression and continuity of all neurosensory layers across the foveal area as revealed by OCT.  This is accompanied by poor visual acuity, nystagmus, and strabismus.  Hypopigmentation of the immediate area has also been reported in some patients.  Visual acuity in one study of 9 patients ranged from 20/50 to 20/200.  The ERG and flash VEP can be normal.  Color vision has been described as normal in some individuals.

Dysgenesis of the anterior segment seems to be family-specific and consists of Axenfeld anomaly or embryotoxon.

Systemic Features

In most cases the only features are foveal hypoplasia with or without anterior chamber anomalies.  Three affected sisters in one family were reported to have mild developmental delay.

Genetics

Inheritance

Homozygous mutations in SLC38A8 (16q23.3) are responsible for this disorder. 

For a somewhat similar condition of foveal hypoplasia see FVH1 (136520), which is, however, caused by a different mutation and inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.

Pedigree

Autosomal recessive

In order for autosomal recessive disorders to be expressed, offspring generally must inherit two mutations, one from each carrier parent.  Carriers with only one mutation, such as the parents, do not have clinical disease.  Note that carrier parents can expect that 1 in 4 children (25%) will inherit both mutations and have the disorder, 2 in 4 children (50%) will be carriers like their parents, while 1 in 4 children (25%) inherit neither mutation.

Image
Sample pedigree of autosomal recessive inheritance

In order for autosomal recessive disorders to be expressed, offspring generally must inherit two mutations, one from each carrier parent. Carriers with only one mutation, such as the parents, do not have clinical disease. Note that carrier parents can expect that 1 in 4 children (25%) will inherit both mutations and have the disorder, 2 in 4 children (50%) will be carriers like their parents, while 1 in 4 children (25%) inherit neither mutation.

Treatment & Management

There is no known treatment.

Selected Resources

Web Resources

Publications

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

A new phenotype of recessively inherited foveal hypoplasia and anterior segment dysgenesis maps to a locus on chromosome 16q23.2–24.2.

PubMedID: 15466012

Isolated foveal hypoplasia with secondary nystagmus and low vision is associated with a homozygous SLC38A8 mutation

PubMedID: