Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in Norway: a 20-year clinical follow-up study with molecular genetic analysis. Two novel rhodopsin mutations: 1003delG and I179F.

PURPOSE

To examine the clinical picture and molecular genetics of 12 Norwegian families with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) in order to achieve a genotype-phenotype correlation.

METHODS

In addition to a clinical ophthalmological examination, fundus photography, dark adaptometry and electroretinography were performed. Four genes were analysed: rhodopsin (RHO); retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1); retinal degeneration slow/peripherin (RDS/peripherin), and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 1 (IMPDH1). Seven of the families had been examined about 20 years previously. A total of 63 patients or first-degree relatives (aged 18-79 years) were examined.

RESULTS

Mutations were found only in the RHO gene. Seven families were given a diagnosis of classical RP. Two of them had novel mutation 1003delG, and one family had the mutation V345M. Four families had pericentral retinal dystrophy (PRD), two families with the mutation A164V and one with novel mutation I179F. One family was given a diagnosis of central and pericentral retinal dystrophy (CPRD), a special type of cone/rod dystrophy, and no mutation was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Six of 12 families had an RHO mutation. The mutation V345M and the novel mutation 1003delG both caused classical RP, the former indicating the most unfavourable prognosis. Two of the families with PRD had the A164V mutation with a favourable prognosis, whereas the novel mutation I179F caused PRD with extremely variable expressivity.