Ocular findings in 34 patients with Alport syndrome: correlation of the findings to mutations in COL4A5 gene.

PURPOSE: To describe the incidence and type of ocular findings of 34 patients with Alport syndrome and to analyze the association of gene defect in COL4A5 gene to ocular abnormalities found.

METHODS

A nationwide search of Alport syndrome patients was performed in Finland, and patients were invited to take part in a thorough ophthalmologic investigation.

RESULTS

A total of 34 Alport syndrome patients from 14 different pedigrees were examined, and ocular abnormalities were found in 32% of them. The visual acuities were normal except in 4 of the 34 patients. Six individuals had retinal flecks and 4 men had anterior lenticonus. In 57% of the pedigrees the defect in COL4A5 gene was known.

CONCLUSION

Ocular abnormalities were rare in childhood and increased with age. There was no correlation between the type of mutation and the type of ocular changes. In addition, the penetrance of the ocular findings varied considerably within most families.