This article reviews several autosomal recessive syndromes characterized by pigmentary retinopathy and, in many, combined with deafness, hypogonadism, and/or mental retardation. These syndromes are manifested in infancy and childhood. Although no specific treatment is available, an early diagnosis can be the first step in initiating symptomative management and preventive measures for the patient and family.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
McKusick VACatalogue of Mendelian inheritance in man. 6th ed. Baltimore: MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983.
2.
Laurence JZ, Moon RCFour cases of retinitis pigmentosa occurring in the same family, and accompanied by general imperfections of development, Ophthalmol Rev1866;2: 32-41.
3.
Bardet G.Sur un syndrome d'obésité congénitale avec polydactylie et rétinite pigmentaire. (Contribution à l'étude des formes cliniques de l'obésité hypophysaire) . Thèse de Paris1920;170:107.
4.
Biedl A. EinGeschwisterpaar mit adiposogenitaler Dystrophie . Dtsch Med Wochenschr1922;48: 1630.
5.
Alström CH, Hallgren B., Nilsson LB, et al. Retinal degeneration combined with obesity, diabetes mellitus and neurogenous deafness. A specific syndrome (not hitherto described) distinct from the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome. A clinical, endocrinological and genetic examination based on a large pedigree. Acta Psychiat Neurol Scand1959:[suppl 129]1-35.
6.
Alström CHAlström syndrome. In: Bergsma D, ed. Birth defects compendium. 2nd ed. New York: Alan R Liss, Inc, 1979;69-70.
7.
Edwards JA, Sethi PK, Scoma AJ, et al. A new familial syndrome characterized by pigmentary retinopathy, hypogonadism, mental retardation, nerve deafness and glucose intolerance. Am J Med1976;60:23-32.
8.
Gordon AM, Capute AJ, Konigsmark BWProgressive quadriparesis, mental retardation, retinitis pigmentosa and hearing loss. Johns Hopkins Med J1976 ;138:142-5.
9.
Von GraefeA. Exceptionelles Verhalten desGesichtsfeldes bei Pigmententartung der Netshaut . Von Graefe's Arch Klin Exp Ophthalmol1858 ;4:250-3.
10.
Usher CHOn the inheritance of retinitis pigmentosa, with notes of cases. R Lond Ophthalmol Hosp Rep1914;19: 130-236.
11.
Davenport Slh.O'Nuallain S., Omenn GS, et al. Usher syndrome in four hard-of-hearing siblings. Pediatrics1978;62:578-83.
12.
Hersh JH, Podruch PE, Weisskopf B.Pigmentary retinopathy, hearing loss, mental retardation, and dysmorphism in sibs: a new syndrome? Original Article Series; Vol 18, No 3B. New York: March of Dimes Birth Defect Foundation. Birth Defects, 1982:175-82.
13.
Solis-Cohen S., Weiss E.Dystrophia adiposogenitalis, with atypical retinitis pigmentosa and mental deficiency. The Laurence-Biedl syndrome: a report of four cases in one family. Am J Med Sci1925;169;489-505.
14.
Schachat AP , Maumenee IHBardet-Biedl syndrome and related disorders . Arch Ophthalmol1982;100:285-8.
15.
Ghosh PKA case of tabes associated with Frohlich's syndrome. lndianJ Pediatr1937;4:197-201.
16.
Bhattacharya SPBenerjea JCAtypical hereditary ataxia. Indian J Pediatr945:12:51-4.
17.
Hutchinson J.On retinitis pigmentosa and allied affections, as illustrating the laws of heredity. Ophthalmol Rev1882; 1:2-7, 26-30.
18.
Hutchinson J.Slowly progressive paraplegia and disease of the choroids with defective intellect and arrested sexual development in several brothers and a sister. Arch Surg1900;11:118-22.
19.
Ganrpo RV, Aaberg TMOcular and systemic manifestations of the Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Am J Qphthalmol1982;94: 750-6.
20.
Ciccarelli EC, Vesell ESLaurence Moon-Biedl syndrome: report of an unusual family. Am J Dis Child1961;101: 519-24.
21.
Klein D., Ammann F.The syndrome of Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl and allied diseases in Switzerland: clinical, genetic, and epidemiological studies. J Neurol Sci1969;9: 479-513.
22.
Srinivas V. , Winsor GM, Dow D.Urologic manifestations of Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome. Urology1983 ;21: 581-3,
23.
Pagon RA, Haas JE, Bunt AH, et al. Hepatic involvement in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Am J Med Genet1982;13: 373-81.
24.
McLoughlin TG, Krovetz LJ, Schiebler GLHeart disease in the Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome: a review and a report of 3 brothers. J Pediatr1964;65:388-99.
25.
Goldstein JL , Fialkow PJThe Alström syndrome. Report of three cases with further delineation of the clinical, pathophysiological, and genetic aspects of the disorder. Medicine1973;52:53-71.
26.
Weinstein RL , Kliman B., Scully REFamilial syndrome of primary testicular insufficiency with normal virilization, blindness, deafness and metabolic abnormalities , N Engl J Med1969;281:969-77.
27.
Cagianut B. , Hochstrasser P., Rhyner K.Diabetes juvenilis, tapeto-retinale degeneration, neurogene Schwerhörigkeit (Alström Syndrom) assoziiert mit einer kongenitalen dyserithropoietischen Anämie Typ III. Schweiz Med Wochenschr1977;107:446-50.
28.
Miniero R., Saracco P., Pomi L., et al. Sindrome di Alström associata ad anemia iporigenerativa e piastrinopenia. Riv ItalPediatr1984;10:188-90.
29.
Hallgren B.Retinitis pigmentosa combined with congenital deafness; with vestibulo-cerebellar ataxia and mental abnormality in a proportion of cases: a clinical and geneticostatistical study. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand1959;[suppl 138]:9-101.
30.
Davenport Slh , Omenn GSThe heterogeneity of Usher syndrome. (abstract 215). Montreal: Fifth International Conference on Birth Defects, Aug. 21-27, 1977.
31.
Fishman GA, Kumar A., Joseph ME, et al. Usher's syndrome: ophthalmic and neuro-otologic findings suggesting genetic heterogeneity. Arch Ophthalmol1983 ; 101:1367-74.
32.
Karjalainen S., Teräsvirta M., Kärjä J., et al. An unusual otologic manifestation of Usher's syndrome in four siblings. Clin Genet1983;24:273-9.
33.
Cantani A., Ciarnella Cantani A, Genovese S., et al. L'atrofia ottica nell'infanzia. AggiornPediatr1984;35:15-26.
34.
Mizuno K., Takei Y., Sears ML, et al. Leber's congenital amaurosis. Am J Ophthalmol1977;83:32-42.
35.
Biemond A.Het syndrome van Laurence-Biedl en een niew aanverwant syndroom. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd1934;78: 1801-9.