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Coats-type retinitis pigmentosa in a 4-year-old child
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco 94143-0730, USA. ryk@itsa.ucsf.edu
Insights
Coats-like exudative retinopathy can appear in children as young as 4 years old, sometimes before retinitis pigmentosa is diagnosed. This case highlights the importance of early detection in pediatric retinal diseases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Retina
Background:
- Coats disease is characterized by retinal telangiectasia and exudation.
- Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited retinal degenerative disorders.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old girl presented with bilateral exudative retinal telangiectasia.
- The patient required photocoagulation for the exudative retinopathy.
Findings:
- The child later developed symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa, including nyctalopia, photophobia, and reduced peripheral vision.
- Electroretinography and dark adaptometry at age 8 confirmed retinitis pigmentosa, indicating Coats-like exudative retinopathy preceded the dystrophy diagnosis.
Implications:
- Coats-like exudative retinopathy can be an early sign of underlying retinitis pigmentosa in children.
- This presentation underscores the need for comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation in pediatric patients with exudative retinopathy.
Purpose:
To describe the occurrence of Coats-like exudative retinopathy secondary to underlying retinitis pigmentosa in a 4-year-old child.
Method:
Case report.
Results:
A 4-year-old girl had bilateral exudative retinal telangiectasia requiring photocoagulation. She subsequently developed progressive nyctalopia, photophobia, and reduced peripheral vision. Electroretinography and dark adaptometry at age 8 years confirmed the diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa.
Conclusions:
Coats-like exudative retinopathy secondary to retinitis pigmentosa can manifest as early as age 4 years and can precede the diagnosis of the underlying retinal dystrophy.
