Chorioretinopathy with Microcephaly 3

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The eyes are not notably small although several patients have been reported to have significant hyperopia.  Vision can be impaired and some individuals have early-onset nystagmus.  The ERG responses are attenuated and may be absent.  The retina is dysplastic with multiple atrophic punched-out lesions, attenuated retinal vessels, and sparse pigmentation. Large retinal folds have been described and one patient developed a retinal detachment.  Optic atrophy was noted in one individual.

Systemic Features: 

Microcephaly of 3-4 standard deviations below normal is a constant feature.  Motor and language abilities can be mildly delayed and  several patients have had mild learning difficulties.   Brain imaging has been normal in most individuals but a shortened and thin corpus callosum was present in one patient.

Genetics

Family and genetic evidence suggest autosomal recessive inheritance.  Compound heterozygous mutations in the TUBGCP4 gene (15q15.3) code for part of a protein complex involved in microtubule organization.

For a somewhat similar condition with a different mutation involving the same microtubule complex see Chorioretinopathy with Microcephaly 1 (251270).

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Low vision aids may be helpful in selected patients.

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in TUBGCP4 Alter Microtubule Organization via the γ-Tubulin Ring Complex in Autosomal-Recessive Microcephaly with Chorioretinopathy

Scheidecker S, Etard C, Haren L, Stoetzel C, Hull S, Arno G, Plagnol V, Drunat S, Passemard S, Toutain A, Obringer C, Koob M, Geoffroy V, Marion V, Strahle U, Ostergaard P, Verloes A, Merdes A, Moore AT, Dollfus H. Mutations in TUBGCP4 Alter Microtubule Organization via the g-Tubulin Ring Complex in Autosomal-Recessive Microcephaly with Chorioretinopathy. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 Apr 2;96(4):666-74.

PubMed ID: 
25817018

References

Scheidecker S, Etard C, Haren L, Stoetzel C, Hull S, Arno G, Plagnol V, Drunat S, Passemard S, Toutain A, Obringer C, Koob M, Geoffroy V, Marion V, Strahle U, Ostergaard P, Verloes A, Merdes A, Moore AT, Dollfus H. Mutations in TUBGCP4 Alter Microtubule Organization via the g-Tubulin Ring Complex in Autosomal-Recessive Microcephaly with Chorioretinopathy. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 Apr 2;96(4):666-74.

PubMedID: 25817018