A pedigree with retinitis pigmentosa and its concomitant ophthalmic diseases

To characterize the ophthalmic clinical phenotype of a family with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and closed-angle glaucoma and to detect pathogenic genes and mutation sites causing RP in this family.

Ophthalmic clinic performance was examined in detail in 8 enrolled family members. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 4 family members for whole-exome sequencing (WES) to select potential genetic mutations whose structures were identified by bioinformatics analysis. Then, Sanger sequencing was used in 12 family members and control group members to validate and confirm the disease-causing mutation loci, and we analyzed the genotype-phenotype relationships.

The known c.512C>T (p.P171L) mutation in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene was only found in afflicted family members and was confirmed by WES and Sanger sequencing as the pathogenic mutation in this family. In addition to being diagnosed with RP, family member III:4 was found to have bilateral closed-angle glaucoma, high myopia, and concurrent cataracts, and family members II:2 and II:4 had pathological changes of anterior chamber angle narrowing. Family members IV:3 and IV:4 were found to have retinoschisis.

Glaucoma and related pathological changes, such as retinoschisis, in family members are preliminarily considered RP complications caused by RHO mutation.