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).

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

References

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].

PubMedID: 30120985

Mohney BG, Pulido JS, Lindor NM, Hogan MC, Consugar MB, Peters J, Pankratz VS, Nasr SH, Smith SJ, Gloor J, Kubly V, Spencer D, Nielson R, Puffenberger EG, Strauss KA, Morton DH, Eldahdah L, Harris PC. A Novel Mutation of LAMB2 in a Multigenerational Mennonite Family Reveals a New Phenotypic Variant of Pierson Syndrome. Ophthalmology. 2011 Jan 12.

PubMedID: 21236492

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.

PubMedID: 18672223

Zenker M, Tralau T, Lennert T, Pitz S, Mark K, Madlon H, Dotsch J, Reis A, M?ontefering H, Neumann LM. Congenital nephrosis, mesangial sclerosis, and distinct eye abnormalities with microcoria: an autosomal recessive syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2004 Oct 1;130A(2):138-45. Review.

PubMedID: 15372515