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Published on: November 2, 2018
Characterization of the Retinal Phenotype Using Multimodal Imaging in Novel Compound Heterozygote Variants of CYP2U1
Ferenc B Sallo1, Chantal Dysli2, Franz Josef Holzer3
1Oculogenetic Unit, Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Purpose:
To report the retinal phenotype in 2 patients simulating type 2 macular telangiectasis with new variants in CYP2U1 implicated in hereditary spastic paraplegia type 56 (HSP 56).
Design:
Cross sectional case series study.
Participants:
Five members of a non-consanguineous family (parents and 3 male children) were investigated.
Methods:
All family members underwent a full ophthalmic evaluation and multimodal retinal imaging. Two family members demonstrating retinal anomalies underwent additional OCT angiography, dual wavelength autofluorescence and fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy, kinetic perimetry, fundus-correlated microperimetry, electroretinography, and electro-oculography. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in all 5 family members.
Main Outcome Measures:
To characterize the retinal phenotype in affected patients with variants in CYP2U1, using multimodal imaging: dual-wavelength autofluorescence, fluorescence lifetime, OCT angiography.
Results:
The 2 siblings with compound heterozygous novel variants c.452C>T; p.(Pro151Leu), c.943C>T; p.(Gln315Ter) in CYP2U1 demonstrated parafoveal loss of retinal transparency and hyperreflectivity to blue light, redistribution of macular pigment to the parafoveal edge, photoreceptor loss, and fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy anomalies: a pattern compatible with that seen in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). One had manifest neurological abnormalities since early childhood; the second had no neurological abnormalities. Each parent and the third sibling were heterozygous for 1 variant and were neurologically and ophthalmically normal.
Conclusions:
These CYP2U1 variants are associated with a retinal phenotype very similar to that otherwise specific for MacTel, suggestive of possible links in the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases.
Financial Disclosures:
The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

