Self-Reported Functional Vision in USH2A-Associated Retinal Degeneration as Measured by the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-reported functional vision (FV) and the impact of vision loss in patients with USH2A-associated retinal degeneration using a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure, the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire (MRDQ), to correlate MRDQ scores with well-established visual function measurements. Design: An observational cross-sectional study (n = 93) of participants who had Usher Syndrome Type 2 (USH2, n = 55) or autosomal recessive non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP; n = 38) associated with biallelic variants in the USH2A gene. Methods: The study protocol was approved by all ethics boards and informed consent was obtained from each participant. Participants completed the MRDQ at the 48-month study follow-up visit. Disease duration was self-reported by participants. One-way ANOVA was used to compare subgroups (clinical diagnosis, age, disease duration, and full-field stimulus threshold [FST] Blue-Red mediation) on mean scores per domain. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess associations between MRDQ domains and visual/retinal function assessments. Results: Of the study sample, 58% were female participants and the median disease duration was 13 years. MRDQ domains were sensitive to differences between subgroups of clinical diagnosis, age, disease duration, and FST Blue-Red mediation. MRDQ domains correlated with static perimetry, microperimetry, full-field stimulus testing, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Conclusions: Self-reported FV measured by the MRDQ, when applied to USH2 and ARRP participants, had good distributional characteristics and correlated well with visual function tests. MRDQ adds a new dimension of understanding on vision-related functioning and establishes this PRO tool as an informative measure in evaluating USH2A outcomes.

Metabolomics facilitates differential diagnosis in common inherited retinal degenerations by exploring their profiles of serum metabolites.

The diagnosis of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) is challenging owing to its phenotypic and genotypic complexity. Clinical information is important before a genetic diagnosis is made. Metabolomics studies the entire picture of bioproducts, which are determined using genetic codes and biological reactions. We demonstrated that the common diagnoses of IRD, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), cone-rod dystrophy (CRD), Stargardt disease (STGD), and Bietti's crystalline dystrophy (BCD), could be differentiated based on their metabolite heatmaps. Hundreds of metabolites were identified in the volcano plot compared with that of the control group in every IRD except BCD, considered as potential diagnosing markers. The phenotypes of CRD and STGD overlapped but could be differentiated by their metabolomic features with the assistance of a machine learning model with 100% accuracy. Moreover, EYS-, USH2A-associated, and other RP, sharing considerable similar characteristics in clinical findings, could also be diagnosed using the machine learning model with 85.7% accuracy. Further study would be needed to validate the results in an external dataset. By incorporating mass spectrometry and machine learning, a metabolomics-based diagnostic workflow for the clinical and molecular diagnoses of IRD was proposed in our study.

Statistical Evaluation of ERG Responses: A New Method to Validate Cycle-by-Cycle Recordings in Advanced Retinal Degenerations.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate a novel method to determine the validity of measurements made using cycle-by-cycle (CxC) recording techniques in patients with advanced retinal degenerations (RD) having low-amplitude flicker electroretinogram (ERG) responses. Methods: The method extends the original CxC recording algorithm introduced by Sieving et al., retaining the original recording setup and the preliminary analysis of raw data. Novel features include extended use of spectrum analysis, reduction of errors due to known sources, and a comprehensive statistical assessment using three different tests. The method was applied to ERG recordings from seven patients with RD and two patients with CNGB3 achromatopsia. Results: The method was implemented as a Windows application to processes raw data obtained from a commercial ERG system, and it features a computational toolkit for statistical assessment of ERG recordings with amplitudes as low as 1 µV, commonly found in advanced RD patients. When recorded using conditions specific for eliciting cone responses, none of the CNGB3 patients had a CxC validated response, indicating that no signal artifacts were present with our recording conditions. A comparison of the presented method with conventional 30 Hz ERG was performed. Bland-Altman plots indicated good agreement (mean difference, -0.045 µV; limits of agreement, 0.193 to -0.282 µV) between the resulting amplitudes. Within-session test-retest variability was 15%, comparing favorably to the variability of standard ERG amplitudes. Conclusions: This novel method extracts highly reliable clinical recordings of low-amplitude flicker ERGs and effectively detects artifactual responses. It has potential value both as a cone outcome variable and planning tool in clinical trials on natural history and treatment of advanced RDs.

[Features of genetic mutations in children with high myopia combined with peripheral retinal degenerations]. / Osobennosti mutatsii v genakh u detei s vysokoi blizorukost'yu, sochetayushcheisya s perifericheskimi vitreokhorioretinal'nymi distrofiyami.

Degenerative changes in the peripheral regions of the ocular fundus allow a closer look at both the role of collagen genes and their mutations in children with high myopia. PURPOSE: The study investigates the features of genetic mutations in children with high myopia combined with peripheral retinal degenerations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study group was formed from the database of genetic studies of the Scientific and Clinical Center OOO Oftalmic, which consists of 4362 patients referred for medical genetic counseling and molecular genetic testing from 2016 to 2021. Selection criteria were: male and female patients, aged 5-18 years old, who had the following clinical signs: high myopia (>6.00 D) and the presence of peripheral retinal degenerations (PRD). The study considered both isolated cases of ophthalmic pathology, as well as its syndromic forms. The final selection included 40 children. All patients had consulted with a geneticist. Whole-exome sequencing (WES), next generation sequencing (NGS), and single gene sequencing were conducted by taking 5 mL of peripheral venous blood and extracting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). RESULTS: In patients with isolated cases of ophthalmic pathology (peripheral retinal degenerations and high myopia) with a confirmed genetic diagnosis, mutations in the COL2A1 gene were detected in 77.4% of cases, and in the COL11A1 gene - in 22.6% of cases. In Stickler syndrome with a confirmed genetic diagnosis, mutations in the COL2A1 gene were detected in 33.3% of cases. In Marshall syndrome, the mutation in the COL11A1 gene was detected in 11.1% of cases. In children with Ehlers-Danlos, Knobloch type 1, Cohen, Marfan, Wagner syndromes mutations in the genes COL5A1, COL18A1, VPS13B, FBN1, VCAN were detected in 55.6% of cases. In 33.3% of cases of Knobloch type 1, Cohen, Wagner syndromes the mutation is found in both copies of the gene (i.e., in both chromosomes), which leads to the development of peripheral retinal degenerations with high myopia. CONCLUSION: The results of the conducted molecular genetic testing expand our understanding of the mutation spectrum in the genes of children with both isolated cases of ophthalmic pathology, as well as syndromic pathology.

Simultaneous Pigmented Paravenous Retinochoroidal Atrophy and Retinitis Pigmentosa in the Contralateral Eye.

This case report describes a simultaneous diagnosis of paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy and retinitis pigmentosa in the same patient.

Genetic and Clinical Features of ABCA4-Associated Retinopathy in a Japanese Nationwide Cohort.

PURPOSE: To clarify the genetic and clinical features of Japanese patients with ABCA4-associated retinopathy. DESIGN: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study. METHODS: Patients with retinal degeneration and biallelic ABCA4 variants were recruited from 13 different hospitals. Whole exome sequencing analysis was used for genetic testing. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were performed on matched patients. The primary outcome measure was identifying multimodal retinal imaging findings associated with disease progression. RESULTS: This study included 63 patients: 19 with missense/missense, 23 with missense/truncation, and 21 with truncation/truncation genotypes. In total, 62 variants were identified, including 29 novel variants. Six patients had a mild phenotype characterized by foveal-sparing or preserved foveal structure, including 4 with missense/missense and 2 with missense/truncation genotypes. The p.Arg212His variant was the most frequent in patients with mild phenotypes (4/12 alleles). Clinical findings showed a disease duration-dependent worsening of the phenotypic stage. Patients with the truncation/truncation genotype exhibited rapid retinal degeneration within a few years and definite fundus autofluorescence imaging patterns, including hyper autofluorescence at the macula and few or no flecks. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that missense/missense or missense/truncation genotypes, including the p.Arg212His variant, are associated with a relatively mild phenotype. In contrast, the truncation/truncation genotype causes rapid and severe retinal degeneration in Japanese patients with ABCA4-associated retinopathy. These data are vital in predicting patient prognosis, guiding genetic counseling, and stratifying patients for future clinical trials.

Compensation of inner retina to early-stage photoreceptor degeneration in a RhoP23H/+ mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal disorder characterized by the degeneration of photoreceptors. RhoP23H/+ mice, which carry a Pro23His mutation in the RHODOPSIN (Rho) gene, are one of the most studied animal models for RP. However, except for the photoreceptors, other retinal neural cells have not been fully investigated in this model. Here, we record the temporal changes of the retina by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the RhoP23H/+ mice, from early to mid-phase of retinal degeneration. Based on thickness analysis, we identified a natural retinal thickness adaption in wild-type mice during early adulthood and observed morphological compensation of the inner retina layer to photoreceptor degeneration in the RhoP23H/+ mice, primarily on the inner nuclear layer (INL). RhoP23H/+ mice findings were further validated via: histology showing the negative correlation of INL and ONL thicknesses; as well as electroretinogram (ERG) showing an increased b-wave to a-wave ratio. These results unravel the sequential morphologic events in this model and suggest a better understanding of retinal degeneration of RP for future studies.

Genetic Testing Experiences of People Living with Inherited Retinal Degenerations: Results of a Global Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Obtaining a genetic diagnosis via genetic testing (GT) is a fundamental step in determining the eligibility of a patient to be enrolled in emerging clinical trials and research studies. Besides, the knowledge of genetic outcome allows patients to plan for significant life choices. However, critical barriers exist to an equitable access to genetic services globally. The objective of this study was to explore patient experiences while seeking genomic services for inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). METHODS: An online survey was designed based on a focus group conducted by Retina International and including people affected by IRDs and their families living in different regions around the world. The survey was then circulated to 43 Retina International member organisations globally via email newsletters and social networks. The survey involved questions in relation to the accessibility, affordability, and timeliness of genomic services for IRDs as well as patient perceived awareness of genomic services for IRDs among healthcare professionals. RESULTS: A total of 410 respondents (IRD patients and caregivers) from over 30 countries across all continents responded to the survey. A considerable number of the patients had to go through a long and arduous journey to access GT and counselling services, wherein 40% had to visit more than 5 physicians, 27% had to visit more than 5 clinics, and 57% had to wait for more than 3 years before obtaining a genetic diagnosis. Furthermore, 46% of respondents reported not receiving genetic counselling prior to undergoing GT, and 39% reported not receiving genetic counselling after undergoing GT. Over 3/4th of the participants reported that they did not have to pay for their genomic services for IRDs. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents reported that their eye care professionals (ECPs) were either not aware of GT, remained neutral, or did not encourage them to undergo GT. CONCLUSION: Patients with IRDs do not have equitable access to best practice GT and counselling services. Greater awareness and training regarding IRDs and the benefits of GT and genetic counselling for patients and families are needed among ECPs. A best practice model on access to genomic services for IRDs is required.

An incipient late-onset retinal degeneration with a C1QTNF5 mutation: a case report with an 11-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe and diagnose the difficulty in a long-term follow-up (eleven years) patient with a very early presentation of late-onset retinal degeneration (L-ORD) and the significance of electrophysiological examinations and follow-up in assessing undiagnosed inherited retinal diseases. METHODS: This is an observational case report of a 56-year-old woman, with scattered multiple yellow-white retinal dots firstly diagnosed as fundus albipunctatus. Ten years after presentation, a deterioration in rod and cone responses in ff-ERG was detected, which allowed us to discard the first diagnostic hypothesis and proceed with a genetic testing. RESULTS: Ten years after presentation, she presented a clear progression of the abnormal photoreceptor response with a cone and rod involvement in ff-ERG, which was not compatible with the previous suspicion of fundus albipunctatus. Six months later, genetic testing results together with the typical progression of atrophic patchy lesions in multimodal imaging allowed a certain diagnosis of L-ORD, caused by an already reported pathogenic variant in the C1QTNF5 gene (c.563C > T; p. Pro188 Leu). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the importance of the ff-ERG examination and the follow-up (or ERG and imaging repetition) in the differential diagnosis of an incipient L-ORD, which can be easily misdiagnosed in the early stages, before the appearance of the characteristic chorioretinal atrophy seen with the progression of this rare disease.

Estudio de las distrofias vitreorretinianas en población mexicana / Study of vitreoretinal dystrophies in a Mexican population

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to demonstrate the incidence of vitreoretinal dystrophies in a Mexican population. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational, descriptive, transverse study. We analyzed the files of patients treated at the Retina Department of a medical center for state employees (ISSSTE) from January 1991 to December 2006 to obtain the incidence of vitreoretinal dystrophies. RESULTS: We studied 36,300 patient files. We found an incidence of 0.008% for familial exudative vitreoretinal dystrophy, 0.008% for X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, 0.005% for Wagner disease and 0.005% for Goldmann-Favre disease. We present here a representative case of each type of dystrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Vitreoretinal dystrophies are uncommon diseases and are difficult to diagnose. Even though their incidence is low, the poor evolution to blindness requires identification of early signs in order to offer timely and opportune treatment.

Aspectos da tomografia de coerência óptica na doença de Stargardt: relato de caso / Optical coherence tomography aspects of Stargardt's disease: case report

O termo fundus flavimaculatus (doença de Stargardt) descreve um grupo de distrofias maculares hereditárias caracterizadas por múltiplos "flecks" amarelados em nível do epitélio pigmentar da retina. Os autores descrevem os achados de tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) em paciente portador de doença de Stargardt e sugerem que a OCT tem validade como exame subsidiário no estudo das características da retina de pacientes portadores da doença de Stargardt, embora estudos envolvendo maior número de pacientes sejam indicados para permitir traçar-se o perfil das alterações mais comuns nestes casos.

The term fundus flavimaculatus (Stargardt disease) describes a group of inherited macular dystrophies characterized by multiple yellow to yellow-white flecks at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium. The authors describe findings in the patient with Stargardt's disease using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and suggest the examination to be valid as subsidiary method in the study of the characteristics of the retina in Stargardt's disease patients, but studies involving a series of patients should be able to show the most frequent findings in these cases.

Degeneraçöes periféricas da retina em pacientes candidatos à cirurgia refrativa / Peripheral retina degeneration in patients candidates for refractive surgery

Objetivo: O objetivo desse estudo é verificar em indivíduos míopes candidatos à cirurgia refrativa a prevalência dos diferentes tipos de lesöes retinianas periféricas degenerativas de acordo com o tipo de miopia. Métodos: De forma prospectiva, no período de um ano, foram examinados os olhos dos pacientes no Setor de Cirurgia Refrativa do Departamento de Oftalmologia da Universidade Federal de Säo Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina que durante a sua consulta inicial apresentassem refraçäo com equivalente esférico superior ou igual a -1,00 dioptria esférica, e näo tivessem antecedentes pessoais de doença ou cirurgia ocular no período. Foi investigada a existência de lesöes e/ou degeneraçöes periféricas predisponentes ao descolamento regmatogênico de retina. Resultados : O grupo foi composto, em sua maioria, por adultos jovens (média de idade de 31 anos). Foram observados olhos com miopia baixa (263 olhos, 31 por cento ), moderada (300 olhos, 36 por cento ) e alta (277 olhos, 33 por cento ); em 35,4 por cento dos pacientes (27 por cento dos olhos) foram encontradas degeneraçöes periféricas, sendo o branco com e sem pressäo a alteraçäo mais frequente (23,4 por cento dos pacientes ou 17,5 por cento dos olhos). Entre as lesöes predisponentes ao descolamento regmatogênico da retina, a mais encontrada foi a degeneraçäo em treliça (8,6 por cento dos pacientes ou 6 por cento dos olhos). Conclusöes: As alteraçöes periféricas predisponentes ou näo ao descolamento regmatogênico de retina apresentaram aumento de prevalência de acordo com o aumento do grau de miopia, com exceçäo das roturas. Todos os pacientes com miopia alta e candidatos à cirurgia refrativa devem ter a periferia retiniana de ambos os olhos examinada.

Hemorragia macular em uma paciente com calazar: relato de caso / Macular hemorrhage in a patient with visceral leishmaniasis case report

Os autores relatam um caso de leishmeniose visceral (calazar) com alteraçäo ocular. Descreve-se um caso de uma paciente de 17 anos, sexo feminino, com calazar, que apresentou hemorragia macular documentada através de retinopatia simples. A hemorragia macular desapareceu após 3 semanas de tratamento específico com Glucantime e controle hematológico. Os autores chamam atençäo para a possibilidade de encontro de hemorragia retiniana em pacientes com leishmaniose visceral e alertam para o surgimento de inúmeros casos diante de reemergência desta parasitose, principalmente nos grandes centros urbanos.

Síndrome de Marshal: síndrome distinta ou uma variante da Síndrome de Stickler? / Marshal Syndrome: a distinct syndrome or a variant from Stickler Syndrome?

A Síndrome de Marshal é uma desordem rara que se caracteriza por surdez, nariz em sela e miopia severa. Síndrome de Marshal é transmitida de forma autossômica dominante, é uma síndrome muito consistente, ao contrário da Síndrome de stickler que é conhecida por ter um fenotipo de alta variabilidade. A Síndrome de Stickler está associada á anormalidade do colágeno tipo 2A1. Defeito no colágeno do tipo XI (col.11A1) foi encontrado em 3 de nossos pacientes com síndrome de Marshall. Achados clínicos e de exame genético provam que a síndrome de Marshall e a Síndrome de Stickler säo síndromes distintas.(AU)/

Síndrome de Wagner-Stickler / Wagner-Stickler syndrome

A doença de Wagner é uma forma muito importante e por vezes esquecida de patologia vitreorretiniana. O mesmo ocorre com a síndrome de Stickler, uma forma mais completa da doença. Säo estudados três casos com especial atençäo as complicaçöes: alta miopia, descolamento da retina, catarata e glaucoma

Degeneraçäo macular de Stargardt: estudo familiar de 4 casos / Stargardt's disease; study and familiar analysis of 4 cases

Os autores analisam quatro casos de Degeneraçäo Macular de Stargardt-Bohr, membros de uma mesma família. Discutem os aspectos de classificaçäo, herança e estagiamento da patologia ligado a características familiares

Degeneraçäo Macular juvenil doença de Stargardt e/ou fundus Flavimaculatus: apresentaçäo de sete casos

Os AA. apresentaram sete casos destas duas entidades em diferentes estágios de evoluçäo. Tecem comentários a respeito da abordagem nestes pacientes como também da importância dos exames complementares