[Siblings with age-related macular degeneration in a pedigree].

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration remains unknown. Environmental and genetic factors have been shown to be associated with in this disease. We report siblings with age-related macular degeneration.

CASES: The proband (the third of 6 siblings) was found to have retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities and drusen of the right macula, and serous retinal detachment, drusen, and choroidal neovascularization of the left macula. Examination of the eldest siblings showed choroidal neovascularization, subretinal hemorrhage, and serous retinal detachment of the right macula. The left eye of the proband and the right eye of the eldest siblings were treated with laser photocoagulation. The fourth sibling was examined, and findings included retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities of both maculas and drusen of the right eye. The sixth sibling had drusen of the left macula.

CONCLUSION

We report a family in which two siblings had age-related macular degeneration and two other siblings had abnormalities of the maculas.