Vitreoretinopathy in Asymptomatic Children With CTNNB1 Syndrome

Previous studies have identified familial exudative vitreoretinonpathy (FEVR) in patients with CTNNB1 syndrome based on severe congenital ocular phenotypes. However, ophthalmoscopy may not be sufficient to detect vision-threatening vitreoretinopathy in all patients.

To report a consecutive retrospective case series of 11 patients with CTNNB1 variants who had previously unremarkable ophthalmoscopic examination results and to describe their detailed ophthalmic phenotypes.

This retrospective case series was conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia from October 2022 to November 2023 among patients with identified variants in CTNNB1 and previously documented normal results in office retinal examinations. These consecutive patients subsequently underwent an examination under anesthesia with fluorescein angiography. Detailed genotype information was analyzed for all patients, and each variant was mapped on the CTNNB1 gene to observe any associations with severity of vitreoretinopathy.

Number of patients with vitreoretinopathy and number requiring treatment for vitreoretinopathy.

The mean (SD) age at the time of CTNNB1 syndrome diagnosis was 2 (1) years, and the mean (SD) age at examination was 6 (3) years for the 11 total patients. A total of 9 patients had a diagnosis of strabismus, and 5 patients had undergone strabismus surgery. FEVR was present in 5 of 11 patients and in 9 eyes. The presence of disease requiring treatment was identified in 6 eyes, including 1 retinal detachment. Detailed genotype analysis of the patients found no clearly delineated high-risk loci in CTNNB1 in association with high severity of FEVR.

In this case series study, nearly all patients with CTNNB1 syndrome required ophthalmic care for refractive error and strabismus, and a subset also required treatment for FEVR. These findings support consideration of ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography among individuals with CTNNB1 syndrome when feasible, including the use of sedation if such an assessment is not possible in the office setting.