[Optic nerve drusen and angioid streaks in pseudoxanthoma elasticum]

The clinical study presents the association between optic disc drusen and angioid streaks in the context of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, in 8.5% (4 from 47) of the cases. The values are significantly higher compared to those from the normal population (0.34%). This result can be the consequence of pathogenic correlations between the two diseases, in which a role is attributed to the metabolic changes within the pseudoxanthoma elasticum. The starting point seems to be the accumulation of polyanions in the elastin of the cribriform plate, followed by disruption of axonal transport, mitochondrial extrusion and subsequent formation of optic disc drusen.