Ординатура / Офтальмология / Английские материалы / Handbook of Nutrition and Ophthalmology_Semba_2007
.pdfChapter 11 / Fatty Acids and Visual Development |
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62.Wiegand RD, Koutz CA, Stinson AM, Anderson RE. Conservation of docosahexaenoic acid in rod outer segments of rat retina during n-3 and n-6 fatty acid deficiency. J Neurochem 1991;57:1690–1699.
63.Stinson AM, Wiegand RD, Anderson RE. Recycling of docosahexaenoic acid in rat retinas during n-3 fatty acid deficiency. J Lipid Res 1991;32:2009–2017.
64.Anderson RE, O’Brien PJ, Wiegand RD, Koutz CA, Stinson AM. Conservation of docosahexaenoic acid in the retina. Adv Exp Med Biol 1992;318:285–294.
65.Bazan NG, Gordon WC, Rodriguez de Turco EB. Docosahexaenoic acid uptake and metabolism in photoreceptors: retinal conservation by an efficient retinal pigmental epithelial cell-mediated recycling process. Adv Exp Med Biol 1992;318:295–306.
66.Jeffrey BG, Weisinger HS, Neuringer M, Mitchell DC. The role of docosahexaenoic acid in retinal function. Lipids 2001;36:859–871.
67.Neuringer M. Infant vision and retinal function in studies of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: methods, results, and implications. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:256–267.
68.Dratz EA, Hargrave PA. The structure of rhodopsin and the rod outer segment disk membrane. Trends Biochem Science 1983;8:128–131.
69.Benolken RM, Anderson RE, Wheeler TG. Membrane fatty acids associated with the electrical response in visual excitation. Science 1973;182:1253–1254.
70.Wheeler TG, Benolken RM, Anderson RE. Visual membranes: specificity of fatty acid precursors for the electrical response to illumination. Science 1975;188:1312–1314.
71.Weisinger HS, Vingrys AJ, Sinclair AJ. The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on the ERG of the guinea pig. Lipids 1996;31:65–70.
72.Neuringer M, Connor WE, Van Petten C, Barstad L. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency and visual loss in infant rhesus monkeys. J Clin Invest 1984;73:272–276.
73.Anderson GJ, Neuringer M, Lin DS, Connor WE. Can prenatal N-3 fatty acid deficiency be completely reversed after birth? Effects on retinal and brain biochemistry and visual function in rhesus monkeys. Pediatr Res 2005;58:865–872.
74.Chen Y, Saari JC, Noy N. Interactions of all-trans-retinol and long-chain fatty acids with interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. Biochemistry 1993;32:11311–11318.
75.Chen Y, Houghton LA, Brenna JT, Noy N. Docosahexaenoic acid modulates the interactions of the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein with 11-cis retinal. J Biol Chem 1996;271:20507–20515.
76.Brown MF. Modulation of rhodopsin function by properties of the membrane bilayer. Chem Phys Lipids 1994;73:159–180.
77.Dratz EA, Holte LL. The molecular spring model for the function of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω-3) in biological membranes. In: Sinclair A, Gibson R (eds). The Third International Congress on Essential Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids, Adelaide, Australia, March 1–5, 1992. Champaign, IL, American Oil Chemists’ Society: 1992; pp. 122–127.
78.Litman BJ, Mitchell DC. A role for phospholipid polyunsaturation in modulating membrane protein function. Lipids 1996;31:S193–S197.
79.Watanabe I, Aonuma H, Kaneko S, Okuyama H. Effect of a high linoleate and a high α-linolenate diets on size distribution of phagosomes in retinal pigment epithelium. In: Yasugi T, Nakamura H, Soma M (eds). Advances in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Research. Amsterdam, Excerpta Medica: 1993; pp. 269– 272.
80.Bush RA, Malnoe A, Reme CE, et al. Dietary deficiency of n-3 fatty acids alters rhodopsin content and function in the rat retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1994;35:91–100.
81.Politi L, Rotstein N, Carri N. Effects of docosahexaenoic acid on retinal development: cellular and molecular aspects. Lipids 2001;36:927–935.
82.Neuringer M, Reisbick S, Janowsky J. The role of n-3 fatty acids in visual and cognitive development: current evidence and methods of assessment. J Pediatr 1994;125:39–47.
83.Marmor MF, Arden GB, Nilsson SEG, Zrenner E. Standard for clinical electroretinography. Arch Ophthalmol 1989;107:816–819.
84.Taylor MJ, McCulloch DL. Visual evoked potentials in infants and children. J Clin Neurophysiol 1992; 9:357–372.
85.Fielder AR, Dobson V, Moseley MJ, Mayer DL. Preferential looking—clinical lessons. Ophthalmic Paediatr Genet 1992;13:101–110.
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86.Teller DY, McDonald MA, Preston K, Sebris SL, Dobson V. Assessment of visual acuity in infants and children: the acuity card procedure. Dev Med Child Neurol 1986;28:779–789.
87.Makrides M, Simmer K, Goggin M, Gibson RA. Erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid correlates the with visual response of healthy, term infants. Pediatr Res 1993;33:425–427.
88.Jørgensen MH, Hernell O, Lund P, Hølmer G, Michaelsen KF. Visual acuity and erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid status in breast-fed and formula-fed term infants during the first four months of life. Lipids 1996;31:99–105.
89.Innis SM, Nelson CM, Rioux MF, King DJ. Development of visual acuity in relation to plasma and erythrocyte omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in healthy term gestation infants. Am J Clin Nutr 1994; 60:347–352.
90.Innis SM, Nelson CM, Lwanga D, Rioux FM, Waslen P. Feeding formula without arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid has no effect on preferential looking acuity or recognition memory in healthy full-term infants at 9 mo of age. Am J Clin Nutr 1996;64:40–46.
91.Innis SM, Akrabawi SS, Diersen-Schade DA, Dobson MV, Guy DG. Visual acuity and blood lipids in term infants fed human milk or formulae. Lipids 1997;32:63–72.
92.Bakker EC, van Houwelingen AC, Hornstra G. Early nutrition, essential fatty acid status and visual acuity of term infants at 7 months of age. Eur J Clin Nutr 1999;53:872–879.
93.Leaf A, Gosbell A, McKenzie L, Sinclair A, Favilla I. Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and visual function in preterm infants. Early Hum Dev 1996;45:35–53.
94.Makrides M, Neumann MA, Gibson RA. Perinatal characteristics may influence the outcome of visual acuity. Lipids 2001;36:897–900.
95.Gibson RA, Chen W, Makrides M. Randomized trials with polyunsaturated fatty acid interventions in preterm and term infants: functional and clinical outcomes. Lipids 2001;36:873–883.
96.Uauy RD, Birch DG, Birch EE, Tyson JE, Hoffman DR. Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on retinal function of very-low-birth-weight neonates. Pediatr Res 1990;28:485–492.
97.Birch EE, Birch DG, Hoffman DR, Uauy R. Dietary essential fatty acid supply and visual acuity development. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1992;33:3242–3253.
98.Birch DG, Birch EE, Hoffman DR, Uauy RD. Retinal development in very-low-birth-weight infants fed diets differing in omega-3 fatty acids. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1992;33:2365–2376.
99.Birch E, Birch D, Hoffman D, Hale L, Everett M, Uauy R. Breast feeding and optimal visual development. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33–38.
100.Uauy R, Hoffman DR, Birch EE, Birch DG, Jameson DM, Tyson J. Safety and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in the nutrition of very low birth weight infants: soy oil and marine oil supplementation of formula. J Pediatr 1994;124:612–620.
101.Carlson SE, Cooke RJ, Werkman SH, Tolley EA. First year growth of preterm infants fed standard compared to marine oil n-3 supplemented formula. Lipids 1992;27:901–907.
102.Carlson SE, Werkman SH, Rhodes PG, Tolley EA. Visual-acuity development in healthy preterm infants: effect of marine-oil supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:35–42.
103.Carlson SE, Werkman SH, Peeples JM, Wilson WM. Long-chain fatty acids and early visual and cognitive development of preterm infants. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994;48(suppl 2):S27–S30.
104.Werkman SH, Carlson SE. A randomized trial of visual attention of preterm infants fed docosahexaenoic acid until nine months. Lipids 1996;31:91–97.
105.Carlson SE, Werkman SH. A randomized trial of visual attention of preterm infants fed docosahexaenoic acid until two months. Lipids 1996;31:85–90.
106.Carlson SE, Werkman SH, Tolley EA. Effect of long-chain n-3 fatty acid supplementation on visual acuity and growth of preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Am J Clin Nutr 1996;63:687–697.
107.Faldella G, Govoni M, Alessandroni R, et al. Visual evoked potentials and dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child 1996;75:F108–F112.
108.Bouglé D, Denise P, Vimard F, Nouvelot A, Penneillo MJ, Guillois B. Early neurological and neuropsychological development of the pretern infant and polyunsaturated fatty acids supply. Clin Neurophysiol 1999;110:1363–1370.
109.Uauy R, Hoffman DR, Peirano P, Birch DG, Birch EE. Essential fatty acids in visual and brain development. Lipids 2001;36:885–895.
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110.San Giovanni JP, Parra-Cabrera S, Colditz GA, Berkey CS, Dwyer JT. Meta-analysis of dietary essential fatty acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids as they relate to visual resolution acuity in healthy preterm infants. Pediatrics 2000;105:1292–1298.
111.Makrides M, Neumann M, Simmer K, Pater J, Gibson R. Are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids essential nutrients in infancy? Lancet 1995;345:1463–1468.
112.Carlson SE, Ford AJ, Werkman SH, Peeples JM, Koo WWK. Visual acuity and fatty acid status of term infants fed human milk and formulas with and without docosahexaenoate and arachidonate from egg yolk lecithin. Pediatr Res 1996;39:882–888.
113.Auestad N, Montalto MB, Hall RT, et al. Visual acuity, erythrocyte fatty acid composition, and growth in term infants fed formulas with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for one year. Pediatr Res 1997; 41:1–10.
114.Agostoni C, Trojan S, Bellù R, Riva E, Giovannini M. Neurodevelopmental quotient of healthy term infants at 4 months and feeding practice: the role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Pediatr Res 1995;38:262–266.
115.Agostoni C, Trojan S, Bellù R, Riva E, Bruzzese MG, Giovannini M. Developmental quotient at 24 months and fatty acid composition of diet in early infancy: a follow up study. Arch Dis Child 1997;76: 421–424.
116.Jørgensen MH, Hølmer G, Lund P, Hernell O, Michaelsen KF. Effect of formula supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid and γ-linolenic acid on fatty acid status and visual acuity in term infants. J Pediatr
Gastroenterol Nutr 1998;26:412–421.
117.Birch EE, Hoffman DR, Uauy R, Birch DG, Prestidge C. Visual acuity and the essentiality of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid in the diet of term infants. Pediatr Res 1998;44:201–209.
118.Willatts P, Forsyth JS, DiModugno MK, Varma S, Colvin M. Influence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on infant cognitive function. Lipids 1998;33:973–980.
119.Willatts P, Forsyth JS, DiModugno MK, Varma S, Colvin M. Effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant formula on problem solving at 10 months of age. Lancet 1998;352:688–691.
120.Lucas A, Stafford M, Morley R, et al. Efficacy and safety of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of infant-formula milk: a randomised trial. Lancet 1999;354:1948–1954.
121.Makrides M, Neumann MA, Simmer K, Gibson RA. Dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids do not influence growth of term infants: a randomized clinical trial. Pediatrics 1999;104:468–475.
122.Makrides M, Neumann MA, Simmer K, Gibson RA. A critical appraisal of the role of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on neural indices of term infants: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics 2000;105:32–38.
123.Birch EE, Castañeda YS, Wheaton DH, Birch DG, Uauy RD, Hoffman DR. Visual maturation of term infants fed long-chain polyunsaturated fatty-acid supplemented or control formula for 12 mo. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:871–879.
124.Auestad N, Scott DT, Janowsky JS, et al. Visual, cognitive, and language assessments at 39 months: a follow-up study of children fed formulas containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to 1 year of age. Pediatrics 2003;112:e177–e183.
125.San Giovanni JP, Berkey CS, Dwyer JT, Colditz GA. Dietary essential fatty acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and visual resolution acuity in health fullterm infants: a systematic review. Early Hum Dev 2000;57:165–188.
126.Uauy R, Hoffman DR, Mena P, Llanos A, Birch EE. Term infants studies of DHA and AA supplementation on neurodevelopment: results of randomized controlled trials. J Pediatr 2003;143:S17–S25.
127.Morley R. Nutrition and cognitive development. Nutrition 1998;14:752–754.
128.Gore SM. Statistical considerations in infant nutrition trials. Lipids 1999;34:185–197.
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12 Inborn Errors of Metabolism
1. INTRODUCTION
Nutritional modification or dietary supplementation can be used as a therapeutic approach for some eye diseases that are due to inborn errors of metabolism. This chapter includes abetalipoproteinemia (Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome), gyrate atrophy, Refsum disease, galactosemia, oculocutaneous tyrosinemia (tyrosinemia type II, Richner-Hanhart syndrome), X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, homocystinuria (cystathionine β-synthetase deficiency), and Wilson disease. Other inborn errors of metabolism that are relevant to ophthalmology and nutrition have been presented elsewhere in this book, including cystic fibrosis (Chapter 1), Leigh syndrome (Chapter 7), and acrodermatitis enteropathica (Chapter 8). Vitamin A supplementation has been reported to modify the clinical response of two conditions, Sorsby fundus dystrophy and retinitis pigmentosa, and these two disorders are included in this chapter.
2. ABETALIPOPROTEINEMIA (BASSEN-KORNZWEIG SYNDROME)
2.1. Historical Background
In 1950, Frank Bassen (b. 1903) and Abraham Kornzweig (b. 1900) described an 18-yr- old Jewish girl, born to first cousins, who had an atypical retinitis pigmentosa, a history of chronic diarrhea, diffuse involvement of the neurological system that resembled Friedrich ataxia, and bizarre, crenated erythrocytes (1). Her younger brother also had the same hematological findings and the beginnings of a pigmentary retinopathy, thus providing further evidence for a hereditary basis to the syndrome. Two years later, Karl Singer and colleagues described a 13-yr-old Jewish boy, born to second cousins, with ataxia, diarrhea, and crenated erythryocytes, which the authors termed “acanthrocytosis” (Greek, akantha = thorn). There was no evidence of pigmentary retinopathy found. A puzzling feature of the syndrome in the reported cases was “celiac disease” that started early in life and was associated with malodorous, fatty stools (2). 19 yr of age, the same individual had developed a pigmentary retinopathy and an extremely low serum cholesterol concentration, suggesting that “the entire syndrome is basically an inborn error of fat metabolism...” (3). The syndrome was also described among individuals whose parents were unrelated (4,5). In 1960, H. B. Salt and colleagues described the absence of β-lipoprotein in a young girl with steatorrhea and crenated erythrocytes. They termed the syndrome “a- β-lipoproteinaemia” and concluded that it was an inborn error of metabolism with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance (5). The original term “acanthrocytosis” was later replaced by acanthocytosis in the literature (5).
From: Nutrition and Health: Handbook of Nutrition and Ophthalmology
By: R. D. Semba © Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Fig. 1. Montage of photographs of a right eye (above) and left eye (below) of a patient with abetalipoproteinemia. Note clumping of pigment and bone spicules. (From ref. 7, with permission from Elsevier Science.)
2.2. Clinical Features
Abetalipoproteinemia is characterized early in infancy by fat malabsorption and growth failure. In the second decade, neurological abnormalities begin to appear and include the loss of deep tendon reflexes, loss of vibratory sense in the lower extremities, loss of proprioception, progressive ataxia, and spastic gait. Neuropathological findings include spinocerebellar degeneration. In the first decade, visual acuity and visual fields may be normal, but impaired dark adaptation may be present (6). A pigmentary retinopathy usually appears in the second decade with gradual onset of night blindness, reduced color vision, and blindness occurs by the fifth decade. The fundus appearance is characterized by pigmentary abnormalities and bone spicules (Fig. 1) (7). There have been many case reports in the last four decades (8–17). Angioid streaks have been described in abetalipoproteinemia (18,19). The ocular histopathology of abetalipoproteinemia is consistent with that of advanced retinitis pigmentosa and includes loss of photoreceptors, invasion of
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Fig. 2. Blood smear (left) and scanning electron micrograph (right) of red blood cells from a patient with abetalipoproteinemia, demonstrating the typical crenated appearance of acanthocytes. (Reprinted from ref. 22. Copyright © 1993, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.)
Table 1
Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Abetalipoproteinemia
•Fat malabsorption
•Failure to thrive
•Loss of deep tendon reflexes
•Loss of vibratory sense in lower extremities
•Ataxia
•Spastic gait
•Night blindness
•Dyschromatopsia
•Pigmentary retinopathy
•Anemia with acanthocytes
•Abnormal lipid profile
pigmented cells into the neuroretina (20,21). Patients with abetalipoproteinemia usually have a mild to moderate anemia with acanthocytes (Fig. 2) (22). Iron deficiency and/or folate deficiency may also occur due to malabsorption (22), and malabsorption of vitamin K may cause an elevated prothrombin time (23). The clinical and laboratory findings of abetalipoproteinemia are summarized in Table 1.
2.3. Metabolic Aspects
Abetalipoproteinemia, a recessive disorder due to mutations of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein gene, is characterized by an abnormal lipid profile, with total plasma cholesterol concentrations of 0.50–1.30 mmol/L (20–50 mg/dL) and low triglycerides (22). There may be undetectable levels of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs), lowdensity lipoproteins (LDLs), and apolipoprotein B. The fundamental metabolic defect in abetalipoproteinemia is a lack of apolipoprotein B, an essential component of chylomicrons, VLDLs, and LDLs. Although it was originally thought that the defect was in the apolipoprotein B gene itself (22), further studies showed that there was no structural defect in the apoliprotein B gene (24–26) but rather a defect of the gene encoding the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (27–30). Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein forms a
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Fig. 3. Vitamin E metabolism in abetalipoproteinemia, showing sites of defective synthesis of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. (Illustration by Frank Corl.)
heterodimer with protein disulfide isomerase and functions in the loading of apolipoprotein B with lipid (31). In the absence of sufficient lipid, apolipoprotein B is rapidly degraded before secretion (32,33). The gene for microsomal triglyceride transfer protein has been localized to chromosome 4q22-24 (31). A mutation in the α-tocopherol transfer protein gene also causes a syndrome similar to abetalipoproteinemia with progressive ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (34,35). To summarize, a defect in the production of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein results in the impaired ability to package fat-soluble vitamins A, E, and K, into chylomicrons for transport from the intestine to the liver (Fig. 3). The incorporation of vitamin E into VLDLs by the liver is impaired by the absence of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, and the overall consequences are extremely low concentrations of chylomicrons, VLDLs, LDLs, and vitamins E, A and K (Fig. 3). The role of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein in abetalipoproteinemia has been reviewed in detail elsewhere (36).
2.4. Nutritional Approaches to the Treatment of Abetalipoproteinemia
In 1961, Angelo DiGeorge and colleagues demonstrated that provision of intravenous lipids in the form of a cottonseed oil emulsion, a rich source of vitamin E, could reverse the acanthocytosis in a patient with abetalipoproteinemia (32). Subsequent studies showed that the abnormalities of the electroretinogram could be reversed in part by high-dose oral vitamin A supplementation (38,39). An 11-yr-old girl with abetalipoproteinemia was treated for 2.5 yr with parenteral vitamins A and E plus medium chain triglycerides, and improvement in both neurological and visual deficits was noted (40). Oral supplementation with vitamins A and E appeared to halt any deterioration of visual function in eight patients with abetalipoproteinemia (41), improved scotopic electroretinogram findings in one patient (42), and delayed the progression of neurological and retinal lesions in others
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(43,44). Long-term supplementation with massive oral doses of vitamin E for 12–18 yr with dietary modification appeared to prevent retinopathy in six patients with abetalipoproteinemia (45). Patients with abetalipoproteinemia should avoid dietary fat, especially long-chain saturated fatty acids, in order to reduce steatorrhea, and should take fatsoluble vitamins. Oral supplementation with vitamin E, 150–200 mg/kg per day and vitamin A, 25,000 IU per day or every other day, are recommended for patients (22). Monitoring of vitamin E status is difficult because plasma vitamin E concentrations cannot be used to monitor therapy, and alternatively, the measurement of vitamin E in adipose tissue has been employed (46). Long-term follow-up of 10 patients with abetalipoproteinemia and three patients with homozygous hypobetaliproteinemia showed that despite vitamin A and E treatment, fundus changes and functional retinal changes can occur (47). Patients with abetalipoproteinemia who receive long-term supplementation with vitamins A and E do not seem to have enhanced oxidative stress (48).
2.5. Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia
Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia, a related defect in the assembly and secretion of apo B-containing lipoproteins in the liver and/or intestine, is a mildly symptomatic genetically heterogeneous autosomal trait characterized by plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels below the fifth percentile (49). Most people with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia are simple heterozygotes who are asymptomatic, and a large proportion of patients may develop nonalcoholic fatty livers. Malabsorption and mild diarrhea may occur in some patients (49). Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is due to a truncationspecifying mutation of the APOB gene on chromosome 2, or linkage to chromosome 3 (3p21), or absent linkage to both APOB and to 3p21 (49). “De novo” mutations of apolipoprotein B (50) and mutations in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein have also been described in familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (51). Progressive retinal degeneration can occur in homozygous familial hypobetalipoproteinemia as with abetalipoproteinemia (47). A 51-yr-old white woman with familial heterozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia presented with night blindness and bilateral symmetric depigmentation of the posterior pole (52). Pigment clumping and pavingstone degeneration were present in the retinal periphery. By 75 yr of age, at which time the patient died, the vision had declined to hand motions. Ocular pathology revealed loss of photoreceptors and massive deposition of a basal linear deposit contaning macrophages and processes of glial cells, with calcification in some segments (52). Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is also treated with oral supplementation of vitamin A and vitamin E (47).
3. GYRATE ATROPHY
3.1. Clinical Features
Gyrate atrophy is a progressive chorioretinal dystrophy that is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The disease is chararacterized by an underlying defect in a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)- or vitamin B6-dependent mitochondrial matrix enzyme, ornithine-δ-amino- transferase. Gyrate atrophy presents in childhood with myopia, and by age 10 yr, there is usually impaired peripheral vision and night blindness. Subcapsular cataracts occur in the second decade, and patients often require cataract extraction. The degree of myopia
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Fig. 4. Fundus appearance in gyrate atrophy. (Reprinted from ref. 57, with permission of Elsevier.)
Table 2
Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Gyrate Atrophy
•Progressive myopia
•Reduced peripheral vision
•Night blindness
•Chorioretinal atrophy
•Other: straight sparse hair, general muscle weakness
•Elevated plasma ornithine
may reach the range of 5–10 diopters. Sharply demarcated areas of chorioretinal atrophy are located initially in the midperiphery of the retina (Fig. 4), and in advanced disease, the areas of chorioretinal atrophy coalesce and encroach on the posterior pole (53). Loss of vision occurs slowly, with blindness occurring in the fourth and fifth decade (53). The ocular histopathology of gyrate atrophy has been described (54). Patients with gyrate atrophy are usually asymptomatic except for ocular problems, and systemic manifestations include fine, straight, and sparse hair and general muscle weakness (55). Recently, degenerative lesions in the white matter have been observed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with gyrate atrophy (56). The clinical and laboratory findings in gyrate atrophy are summarized in Table 2.
3.2. Metabolic Aspects
Ornithine-δ-aminotransferase is involved in the introconversion of ornithine to pyr- roline-5-carboxylate (Fig. 5), and a defect in ornithine-δ-aminotransferase leads to a 10-
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Fig. 5. Pathways of ornithine metabolism.
to 15-fold increase in ornithine in body fluids. Small reductions in plasma glutamate, glutamine, lysine, and creatinine also occur in gyrate atrophy. Ornithine is formed in the body from arginine in the urea cycle. Patients with gyrate atrophy have a great variability in the severity of the disease and their therapeutic response to pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and this variability is likely related to the amount of residual ornithine-δ-aminotransferase that may be present. Elevated plasma ornithine concentrations were noted in gyrate atrophy patients in 1973 (57) and associated with a defect in ornithine-δ-aminotransferase in 1988 (58). The ornithine-δ-aminotransferase has been cloned and is located on chromosome 10q26. More than 60 different mutations have been identified at the ornithine-δ-amino- transferase locus. Gyrate atrophy has been described worldwide, and some ornithine-δ- aminotransferase gene mutations appear to be unique to certain racial or ethnic groups (59). The V332M mutation (60,61), A226V mutation (62), and E318K mutation (63) have been identified as pyridoxine-responsive. Patients who are responsive to pyridoxine generally have a more slowly progressive disease.
3.3. Experimental Animal Studies
In experimental animal studies, intravitreal injections of L-ornithine in the eyes of rats, rhesus monkeys, and cynomolgus monkeys resulted in degeneration of retinal pigment epithelium and secondary degeneration of adjacent photoreceptor cells (64). No changes were noted after similar intravitreal injections of arginine. An ornithine-δ-aminotransfer- ase-deficient mouse model has been developed by gene targeting (65). Mice in this model develop hyperornithinaemia and a slowly progressive retinal degeneration, with the primary insult appearing the retinal pigment epithelium (66). Restriction of dietary arginine has been shown to reduce ornithine accumulation and completely prevent the retinal degeneration in this mouse model (67). Electron micrographs of the retina from ornithine-δ- aminotransferase-deficient mice on an arginine-restricted diet and standard diet are shown in Fig. 6 (67).
