Metabolic stroke in a patient with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations

OPA1 related disorders include: classic autosomal dominant optic atrophy syndrome (ADOA), ADOA plus syndrome and a bi-allelic OPA1 complex neurological disorder. We describe metabolic stroke in a patient with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations. A twelve-year old girl presented with a complex neurological disorder that includes: early onset optic atrophy at one year of age, progressive gait ataxia, dysarthria, tremor and learning impairment. A metabolic stroke occurred at the age of 12 years. The patient was found to harbor a de novo heterozygous frame shift mutation c.1963_1964dupAT; p.Lys656fs (NM_015560.2) and a missense mutation c.1146A > G; Ile382Met (NM_015560.2) inherited from her mother. The mother, aunt, and grandmother are heterozygous for the Ile382Met mutation and are asymptomatic. The co-occurrence of bi-allelic mutations can explain the severity and the early onset of her disease. This case adds to a growing number of patients recently discovered with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations presenting with a complex and early onset neurological disorder resembling Behr syndrome. To the best of our knowledge metabolic stroke has not been described before as an OPA1 related manifestation. It is important to be aware of this clinical feature for a prompt diagnosis and consideration of available treatment.

Unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms: think mitochondrial disease

Defects in mitochondrial function are increasingly recognised as central to the pathogenesis of many diseases, both inherited and acquired. Many of these mitochondrial defects arise from abnormalities in mitochondrial DNA and can result in multisystem disease, with gastrointestinal involvement common. Moreover, mitochondrial disease may present with a range of non-specific symptoms, and thus can be easily misdiagnosed, or even considered to be non-organic. We describe the clinical, histopathological and genetic findings of six patients from three families with gastrointestinal manifestations of mitochondrial disease. In two of the patients, anorexia nervosa was considered as an initial diagnosis. These cases illustrate the challenges of both diagnosing and managing mitochondrial disease and highlight two important but poorly understood aspects, the clinical and the genetic. The pathophysiology of gastrointestinal involvement in mitochondrial disease is discussed and emerging treatments are described. Finally, we provide a checklist of investigations for the gastroenterologist when mitochondrial disease is suspected.

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy associated with hearing impairment and impaired glucose regulation caused by a missense mutation in the WFS1 gene

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) is genetically heterogeneous, with OPA1 on 3q28 being the most prevalently mutated gene. Additional loci are OPA3, OPA4, and OPA5, located at 19q13.2, 18q12.2, and 22q12.1-q13.1, respectively. Mutations in the WFS1 gene, at 4p16.3, are associated with either optic atrophy (OA) as part of the autosomal recessive Wolfram syndrome or with autosomal dominant progressive low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) without any ophthalmological abnormalities. Linkage and sequence mutation analyses of the ADOA candidate genes OPA1, OPA3, OPA4, and OPA5, including the genes WFS1, GJB2, and GJB6 associated with recessive inherited OA or dominant LFSNHL, were performed. We identified one novel WFS1 missense mutation E864K, c.2590G-->A in exon 8 that co-segregates with ADOA combined with hearing impairment and impaired glucose regulation. This is the first example of autosomal dominant optic atrophy and hearing loss associated with a WFS1 mutation, supporting the notion that mutations in WFS1 as well as in OPA1 may lead to ADOA combined with impaired hearing.

Short wavelength-automated perimetry compared with standard achromatic perimetry in autosomal dominant optic atrophy

BACKGROUND

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA, Kjer-type) is a heterogeneous, non-inflammatory degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. The diagnosis of ADOA can be challenging owing to its insidious onset and large variability in phenotypic expression, both within and between individual pedigrees. The earliest literature reports relatively mild centrocaecal scatomas to white targets in ADOA, but extensive and dense peripheral field loss to coloured targets, especially blue, with Bjerrum perimetry. The phrase "inverted peripheral visual fields to coloured targets" has been used to describe this phenomenon.

METHODS

Humphrey standard achromatic perimetry (SAP) and short wavelength-automated perimetry (SWAP) were carried out on five patients with ADOA.

RESULTS

Regardless of wide variations in patient age, visual acuity, disc appearance and colour vision, the SWAP mean deviation (MD) was between 10 and 20 times more depressed than the SAP MD. The actual differences ranged from 9.38 to 13.78 dB.

CONCLUSIONS

These data are consistent with the original reports suggesting that, early in this disease process, the blue-target deficits are typically peripheral and that this difference between SAP and SWAP perimetry may be a robust indicator of ADOA in both early and late stages of this disease.

Hereditary optic neuropathies: from the mitochondria to the optic nerve

PURPOSE

To review our current knowledge of inherited optic neuropathies.

DESIGN

Perspective.

METHODS

Literature review.

RESULTS

The hereditary optic neuropathies consist of a group of disorders in which optic nerve dysfunction figures solely or prominently and direct inheritance is clinically or genetically proven. The most common of these disorders are autosomal dominant optic atrophy (Kjers' disease) and maternally-inherited Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Other inherited neurologic and systemic syndromic diseases will frequently manifest optic neuropathy. A selective vulnerability of the optic nerve to perturbations in mitochondrial function may underlie a final common pathway among these disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

The ophthalmologist should be familiar with the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of the hereditary optic neuropathies. Recent advances in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of the inherited optic neuropathies may provide insight into their treatment and the treatment of acquired optic nerve disorders.

Hereditary optic neuropathies

AIMS

To provide a clinical update on the hereditary optic neuropathies.

METHODS

Review of the literature.

RESULTS

The hereditary optic neuropathies comprise a group of disorders in which the cause of optic nerve dysfunction appears to be hereditable, based on familial expression or genetic analysis. In some hereditary optic neuropathies, optic nerve dysfunction is typically the only manifestation of the disease. In others, various neurologic and systemic abnormalities are regularly observed.

CONCLUSION

The most common hereditary optic neuropathies are autosomal dominant optic atrophy (Kjer's disease) and maternally inherited Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. We review the clinical phenotypes of these and other inherited disorders with optic nerve involvement.

Unexplained visual loss

Dominant optic atrophy is the most common heredodegenerative optic neuropathy. Typically, patients present with slowly progressive, bilaterally decreased central visual acuity. Subtle central or cecocentral visual field defect and normal peripheral isopters are demonstrated with perimetry. A defect in blue-yellow discrimination (tritan error axis) is the most common type of dyschromatopsia, however protan and deutan axes may be superimposed. A characteristic optic disk appearance includes temporal disk pallor with excavation. An autosomal dominant inheritance pattern can often be elicited from the family history.

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type VI with optic atrophy

PURPOSE

To present the detailed clinical findings of a large family with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type VI (HMSN VI), a syndrome featuring optic atrophy.

DESIGN

Observational case series.

METHODS

A detailed history was obtained and physical examination was made of the extended family of the proband for evidence of neurologic dysfunction. The OPA1 gene was screened for mutations by direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Twelve of 97 family members examined are affected with signs of HMSN VI. Three other members have either optic atrophy or peripheral neuropathy, thus allowing an appreciation of the full clinical spectrum of disease. No mutations were found in the OPA1 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

This family demonstrates the variable expressivity of this disorder as well as incomplete penetrance. This is the largest known family with HMSN VI. No association was found with changes in the OPA1 gene.