Dataset Information

The external limiting membrane in early-onset Stargardt disease.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To describe pathologic changes of the external limiting membrane (ELM) in young patients with early-onset Stargardt (STGD1) disease.

Methods

Twenty-six STGD1 patients aged younger than 20 years with confirmed disease-causing adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) alleles and 30 age-matched unaffected individuals were studied. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus autofluorescence (AF), and color fundus photography (CFP) images, as well as full-field electroretinograms were obtained and analyzed for one to four visits in each patient.

Results

The ELM in all patients exhibited a distinct thickening that was not observed in unaffected individuals. In addition, accumulations of reflective deposits were noted in the outer nuclear layer in every patient. Four patients exhibited a concave protuberance or bulging of a thickened and hyperreflective ELM band within the fovea containing preserved photoreceptors. Longitudinal SD-OCT data in several patients revealed the persistence of this ELM abnormality over a period of time (1-4 years). Furthermore, the edges of the inner segment ellipsoid band appeared to recede earlier than the ELM band in active lesions.

Conclusions

Structural changes seen in the ELM of this cohort may reflect a gliotic response to cellular stress at the photoreceptor level in early-onset STGD1.

SUBMITTER: Lee W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4184384 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The external limiting membrane in early-onset Stargardt disease.

Lee Winston W Nõupuu Kalev K Oll Maris M Duncker Tobias T Burke Tomas T Zernant Jana J Bearelly Srilaxmi S Tsang Stephen H SH Sparrow Janet R JR Allikmets Rando R

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 20140819 10

<h4>Purpose</h4>To describe pathologic changes of the external limiting membrane (ELM) in young patients with early-onset Stargardt (STGD1) disease.<h4>Methods</h4>Twenty-six STGD1 patients aged younger than 20 years with confirmed disease-causing adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) alleles and 30 age-matched unaffected individuals were studied. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus autofluorescence (AF), and color fundus photography (CF ...[more]

PMID: 25139735

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Project description:PurposeTo describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of patients with childhood-onset Stargardt disease (STGD).DesignRetrospective case series.ParticipantsForty-two patients who were diagnosed with STGD in childhood at a single institution between January 2001 and January 2012.MethodsA detailed history and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination were undertaken, including color fundus photography, autofluorescence imaging, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and pattern and full-field electroretinograms. The entire coding region and splice sites of ABCA4 were screened using a next-generation, sequencing-based strategy. The molecular genetic findings of childhood-onset STGD patients were compared with those of adult-onset patients.Main outcome measuresClinical, imaging, electrophysiologic, and molecular genetic findings.ResultsThe median ages of onset and the median age at baseline examination were 8.5 (range, 3-16) and 12.0 years (range, 7-16), respectively. The median baseline logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.74. At baseline, 26 of 39 patients (67%) with available photographs had macular atrophy with macular/peripheral flecks; 11 (28%) had macular atrophy without flecks; 1 (2.5%) had numerous flecks without macular atrophy; and 1 (2.5%) had a normal fundus appearance. Flecks were not identified at baseline in 12 patients (31%). SD-OCT detected foveal outer retinal disruption in all 21 patients with available images. Electrophysiologic assessment demonstrated retinal dysfunction confined to the macula in 9 patients (36%), macular and generalized cone dysfunction in 1 subject (4%), and macular and generalized cone and rod dysfunction in 15 individuals (60%). At least 1 disease-causing ABCA4 variant was identified in 38 patients (90%), including 13 novel variants; ≥2 variants were identified in 34 patients (81%). Patients with childhood-onset STGD more frequently harbored 2 deleterious variants (18% vs 5%) compared with patients with adult-onset STGD.ConclusionsChildhood-onset STGD is associated with severe visual loss, early morphologic changes, and often generalized retinal dysfunction, despite often having less severe fundus abnormalities on examination. One third of children do not have flecks at presentation. The relatively high proportion of deleterious ABCA4 variants supports the hypothesis that earlier onset disease is often owing to more severe variants in ABCA4 than those found in adult-onset disease.

Project description:PurposeTo determine the reliability and repeatability of quantitative evaluation of areas of decreased autofluorescence (DAF) from fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images and track disease progression in children with Stargardt disease (STGD1), and to investigate clinical and genotype correlations, disease symmetry, and intrafamilial variability.DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsChildren and adults with molecularly confirmed STGD1 (n = 90) underwent longitudinal FAF imaging with subsequent semiautomated measurement of the area of DAF and calculation of the annual rate of progression. The age of disease onset was recorded for all subjects, as well as the electroretinography (ERG) group at baseline (n = 86). Patients were grouped for analysis based on the age at baseline and age of onset, into children (n = 56), adults with childhood-onset STGD1 (n = 15), and adults with adult-onset (n = 19). Fifty FAF images were selected randomly and analyzed by 2 observers to evaluate repeatability and reproducibility. Differences between groups, interocular symmetry, genotype-phenotype correlations, and intrafamilial variability were also investigated both for baseline measurements as well as progression rates. We measured visual acuity, molecular genetics, ERG group, FAF metrics, and their correlations.ResultsThe mean age of onset ± SD was 9.6 ± 3.4 years for childhood-onset (n = 71) and 28.3 ± 7.8 years for adult-onset STGD1 (n = 19). The intra- and interobserver reliability of DAF quantification was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.995 and 0.987, respectively). DAF area was symmetric between eyes and the mean rate of progression (SD) was 0.69 (0.72), 0.78 (0.48), and 0.40 (0.36) mm2/year for children, adults with childhood-onset, and adults with adult-onset disease, respectively. Patients belonging to a group 3 ERG phenotype (generalized cone and rod dysfunction) had a significantly greater progression rate. Limited intrafamilial variability was observed.ConclusionsThis is the first large prospective study of FAF in a cohort of molecularly confirmed children with STGD1. DAF area quantification was highly reliable and may thereby serve as a robust structural endpoint. A high rate of progression was observed in childhood-onset disease, making this subtype of STGD1 ideally suited to be considered for prioritization in clinical trials.

Dataset Information

The external limiting membrane in early-onset Stargardt disease.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The external limiting membrane in early-onset Stargardt disease.

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