Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a hereditary retinal vascular dysplasia. So far, 6 genes have been found to be associated with FEVR: Wnt receptor Frizzled Protein 4, Norrie's disease, co-receptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5, tetraspanin 12, zinc finger protein 408, and kinesin family members 11 genes. Its clinical manifestations, pathological processes and genetic patterns are diverse, and it shows the relationship between gene polymorphism and clinical manifestation diversity. It is characterized by different symptoms between the same individual, the same family, and the same gene mutation; different clinical stages and gene mutation types of parents or unilateral genetic children; different clinical characteristics and gene mutation patterns of full-term and premature infant; combined with other eye disease and systemic diseases; double gene mutations and single gene mutations have different clinical manifestations and gene mutation characteristics. A comprehensive understanding of the different clinical manifestations and diverse genetics of FEVR can provide better guidance for the treatment of FEVR.
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a severe inherited vitreoretinal disorder. Recently, mutations in genes encoding frizzled 4 (FZD4), low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), norrie disease protein (NDP), tetraspanin 12 (TSPAN12), zinc fmger protein 408 (ZNF408), kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) have so far been identified to cause FEVR. The former four genes have been shown to participate in the Wnt and Norrin-β-catenin signal pathway, which perform a crucial role for this pathway in ocular and vascular development. The primary clinical feature of FEVR is incomplete retinal vascular development on the temporal side of the peripheral retina, with or without abnormal retinal vascular differentiation. The clinical manifestations of this disease differ greatly among patients, from asymptomatic to complete retinal detachments with blindness. Fundus angiography and genetic screening are the main diagnostic methods for this disease and the early screening is extremely important in the treatment and prognosis. The progress can be controlled by laser treatment at the initial stage. Scleral buckling surgery and vitrectomy can be performed with advanced retinal detachment, but the prognosis is poor. The effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs on new blood vessels may play a certain role in its treatment. With the in-depth study of pathogenesis, selective targeted treatment of FEVR pathogenic genes will become a new direction of treatment for some kinds of phenotype. This article reviews the recent advances of FEVR.
ObjectiveTo understand research hotspots and future development trends in the field of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) from 2014 to 2023. MethodsRelevant literature on FEVR was retrieved using the Web of Science Core Collection (SSCI and SCI-Expanded) from the Institute for Scientific Information. The bibliometric analysis software CiteSpace 6.2.R3 was used to analyze countries or regions, institutions, authors, co-cited references, and keywords. ResultsA total of 316 FEVR-related articles were included. The annual number of publications in this field showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2014 to 2023, with the highest number of publications in 2022, 51 papers (16.14%, 51/316); and the lowest in 2015, 15 papers (4.75%, 15/316). China had the highest number of publications, with 137 papers (43.35%, 137/316). Among institutions, Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranked first with 43 papers, while Professor Zhao Peiquan from Xinhua Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, had the highest number of publications among authors, with 34 papers. The country with the highest betweenness centrality was the United States, 0.91; the institution was the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 0.16; and the author was Ding Xiaoyan, 0.12. The 316 papers were clustered into four research areas: #0 clinical characteristics, #1 ndp, #2 norrie disease, and #3 retinopathy of prematurity. Keywords such as "Chinese patients," "TSPAN12," "variants," and "spectrum" remained highly frequent up to 2023. ConclusionsThe number of publications on FEVR research from 2014 to 2023 show a growth trend, with Chinese research institutions and scholars contributing the most. Research on pathogenic genotypes and clinical phenotypes remains a crucial direction for future development.
ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of epilepsy patients with DEPDC5 mutation, and to improve the understanding of familial hereditary focal epilepsy.MethodsThree families with familial hereditary focal epilepsy were enrolled in this study from September 2014 to September 2017 at the Sanjiu Brain Hospital of Guangdong Province. Epilepsy-related gene in peripheral blood was detected by the second generation sequencing. The medical history, family history, magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalo-groph, treatment programs and other data were collected and aralyzed.ResultsThere were 8 patients in the three families, seizures of whom originate mostly from the frontal or temporal lobe. Cognitive function and other system function was basically normal fron patients treated with antiepilepsy drugs.ConclusionsThe mutations of DEPDC5 gene are common in familial hereditary focal epilepsy, which leads to the main clinical symptom of complex partial seizure. Antiepilepsy drug therapy is effective to most patients. However, to those drug resistant patients, prognosis can improved by surgical treatment.
ObjectiveTo observe the transthyretin (TTR) gene mutation, protein and mRNA expression in patients with familial vitreous amyloidosis. MethodsSubjects were divided into three groups: (1) illness group: seven patients with familial vitreous amyloidosis. (2) No-illness group: 9 unaffected family members. (3) Control group: 9 healthy individuals in same area. Subjects' peripheral venous blood were collected and DNA were extracted, 4 exons of TTR gene were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), the gene fragments were sequencing by the fluorescence labelling method. Serum TTR protein expression was detected by Western blot, and TTR mRNA in leukocyte was assayed by RT-PCR. Results4 exons of TTR gene of all samples were amplified, and DNA sequencing data showed that 7 patients and 3 subjects DNA from unaffected family members had mutated in the 3rd exon of 107th base, changing from G to C. Heterozygous mutation occurred in codon of the 83th amino acid in exon 3, namely, Gly83Arg, resulted in the change of GGC to CGC. The protein and mRNA expression of TTR was lower in illness group than no-illness group and control groups(P < 0.05). Compared with control group, TTR mRNA expression in unaffected family members groups was significant decreased(P < 0.05). ConclusionHeterozygous mutation occurred in codon of the 83th amino acid in exon 3, namely Gly83Arg, and suggested that Gly83Arg is connected with the change of TTR mRNA and protein expression.
Objective To compared the changes of macular microvascular architecture in early stage familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) patients with inner retinal layer (IRL) persistence and without IRL persistence. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From 2017 to 2022, 94 patients with stage 1 FEVR with or without IRL residue and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers with 45 eyes (normal control group) who were confirmed by ophthalmology examination in Hangzhou Hospital of Optometry Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital were included in the study. According to whether there was IRL residue, the patients were divided into IRL group and non-IRL group, with 22 patients (22 eyes) and 72 patients (72 eyes), respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed in all eyes. Superficial vessel density (SCP) and deep vessel density (DCP) of whole image, fovea and parafovea, the area and perimeter of fovea avascular area (FAZ), A-circularity index (AI, perimeter/standard circle perimeter with equal area) and vessel density around the 300 μm width of the FAZ (FD), central macular thickness (CMT) on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were measured. ResultsSCP and DCP of whole image (F=10.774, 4.583) and parafovea (F=10.433, 3.912), CMT (F=171.940) in IRL group and non-IRL group on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were significantly lower than that in normal persons (P＜0.05). There were significant differences among three groups of the area of FAZ (F=4.315), AI (F=3.413), FD-300 (F=13.592) (P＜0.05). BCVA were worst in IRL group (P＜0.05). ConclusionsBlood flow density decreased in macular area of FEVR patients. CMT is significantly thicker than normal population. The FAZ area of the foveal IRL residual eyes is small and irregular, with worse BCVA and lower macular blood density.