Sorsby's fundus dystrophy is genetically linked to chromosome 22q13-qter

Sorsby's fundus dystrophy (SFD) is an autosomal dominant macular degeneration developing in the third or fourth decade. Patients lose central vision from subretinal neovascularization and atrophy of the choriocapillaris, pigment epithelium and retina. SFD shares some striking clinical features with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in western countries thereby providing a valuable genetic model for AMD. To map the SFD locus, we performed linkage analysis in a single large SFD family. After exclusion of approximately 65% of the autosomal genome, we found significant linkage to several markers from chromosome 22. Recombinant chromosomes sublocalize the SFD gene to 22q13-qter between D22S275 and D22S274.