Retinal Vascular Tortuosity and Exudative Retinopathy In A Family With Dyskeratosis Congenita Masquerading As Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2017

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report a novel presentation of dyskeratosis congenita masquerading as familial exudative vitreoretinopathy.

METHODS: Observational case series involving single family and literature review.

RESULTS: A brother and sister were diagnosed with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy at ages 4 and 2, respectively. Both patients were managed with laser photocoagulation. Eight years after the initial presentation, both siblings developed pancytopenia secondary to bone marrow failure. Laboratory work-up revealed severely shortened telomere length in both patients, and genetic testing revealed a missense mutation in the gene that encodes the reverse transcriptase component of telomerase, confirming the diagnosis of dyskeratosis congenita. The father of both children was a carrier of the same mutation, who exhibited marked retinal vascular tortuosity of the second-order vessels.

CONCLUSION: Dyskeratosis congenita is a severe multisystem disorder, which should be considered in cases of pediatric exudative retinopathies with concurrent signs and/or symptoms of bone marrow failure.

Volume

11 Suppl 1

First Page

187

Last Page

187

ISSN

1937-1578

PubMed ID

27685501

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