Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features

Ana Maria Cunha,1 Rodrigo Vilares-Morgado,1 Ana Filipa Moleiro,1 Fernando Falcão-Reis,1,2 Olinda Faria1,2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; 2Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine...

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Main Authors: Cunha AM, Vilares-Morgado R, Moleiro AF, Falcão-Reis F, Faria O
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-03-01
Series:International Medical Case Reports Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/childhood-onset-leber-hereditary-optic-neuropathy-particular-features-peer-reviewed-article-IMCRJ
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author Cunha AM
Vilares-Morgado R
Moleiro AF
Falcão-Reis F
Faria O
author_facet Cunha AM
Vilares-Morgado R
Moleiro AF
Falcão-Reis F
Faria O
author_sort Cunha AM
collection DOAJ
description Ana Maria Cunha,1 Rodrigo Vilares-Morgado,1 Ana Filipa Moleiro,1 Fernando Falcão-Reis,1,2 Olinda Faria1,2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; 2Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalCorrespondence: Ana Maria CunhaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Avenida Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4202 – 451, PortugalTel +35 1225512100Fax +35 1225513669Email ana.cunha.18@gmail.comBackground: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is an optic neuropathy of mitochondrial inheritance. Childhood-onset disease is relatively rare and there are limited data on this important patient subgroup.Case Presentation: We present 3 particular presentations of LHON. Patient 1 was an 8-year-old boy admitted to the emergency department reporting a progressive bilateral visual loss and intermittent headaches. Neuro-ophthalmological examination revealed a bilateral pseudopapilledema. Lumbar puncture identified intracranial hypertension and the brain and orbits magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensity in the posterior region of the left optic nerve and the optic chiasm. Patient 2 was a 12-year-old boy admitted to the emergency department reporting painless, progressive central vision loss in the right eye. Fundus examination revealed a hyperemic disc and vascular network papillary and peripapillary vascular microdilations. Three months later, the left eye presented visual loss. Patient 3 was a 6-year-old female child referred to the neuro-ophthalmology specialist due to painless central visual loss in both eyes. Her BCVA was 1/10 and counting fingers in right and left eye, respectively, and fundus examination revealed a pallor optic disc in the temporal sector.Discussion: The phenotype of childhood-onset disease may present itself distinct from classical adult-onset LHON. The absence of classical clinical features could lead to initial misdiagnosis. There should exist a high index of suspicion in children presenting unexplained subnormal vision in order to avoid potential diagnostic delays.Keywords: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, childhood-onset disease, mitochondrial inheritance
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spelling doaj.art-99b5f7883f364053a6b58a6c2587c4232022-12-21T20:02:55ZengDove Medical PressInternational Medical Case Reports Journal1179-142X2021-03-01Volume 1416316963007Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular FeaturesCunha AMVilares-Morgado RMoleiro AFFalcão-Reis FFaria OAna Maria Cunha,1 Rodrigo Vilares-Morgado,1 Ana Filipa Moleiro,1 Fernando Falcão-Reis,1,2 Olinda Faria1,2 1Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; 2Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalCorrespondence: Ana Maria CunhaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Avenida Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4202 – 451, PortugalTel +35 1225512100Fax +35 1225513669Email ana.cunha.18@gmail.comBackground: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is an optic neuropathy of mitochondrial inheritance. Childhood-onset disease is relatively rare and there are limited data on this important patient subgroup.Case Presentation: We present 3 particular presentations of LHON. Patient 1 was an 8-year-old boy admitted to the emergency department reporting a progressive bilateral visual loss and intermittent headaches. Neuro-ophthalmological examination revealed a bilateral pseudopapilledema. Lumbar puncture identified intracranial hypertension and the brain and orbits magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensity in the posterior region of the left optic nerve and the optic chiasm. Patient 2 was a 12-year-old boy admitted to the emergency department reporting painless, progressive central vision loss in the right eye. Fundus examination revealed a hyperemic disc and vascular network papillary and peripapillary vascular microdilations. Three months later, the left eye presented visual loss. Patient 3 was a 6-year-old female child referred to the neuro-ophthalmology specialist due to painless central visual loss in both eyes. Her BCVA was 1/10 and counting fingers in right and left eye, respectively, and fundus examination revealed a pallor optic disc in the temporal sector.Discussion: The phenotype of childhood-onset disease may present itself distinct from classical adult-onset LHON. The absence of classical clinical features could lead to initial misdiagnosis. There should exist a high index of suspicion in children presenting unexplained subnormal vision in order to avoid potential diagnostic delays.Keywords: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, childhood-onset disease, mitochondrial inheritancehttps://www.dovepress.com/childhood-onset-leber-hereditary-optic-neuropathy-particular-features-peer-reviewed-article-IMCRJleber hereditary optic neuropathychildhood-onset diseasemitochondrial inheritance
spellingShingle Cunha AM
Vilares-Morgado R
Moleiro AF
Falcão-Reis F
Faria O
Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
International Medical Case Reports Journal
leber hereditary optic neuropathy
childhood-onset disease
mitochondrial inheritance
title Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
title_full Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
title_fullStr Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
title_full_unstemmed Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
title_short Childhood-Onset Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Particular Features
title_sort childhood onset leber hereditary optic neuropathy particular features
topic leber hereditary optic neuropathy
childhood-onset disease
mitochondrial inheritance
url https://www.dovepress.com/childhood-onset-leber-hereditary-optic-neuropathy-particular-features-peer-reviewed-article-IMCRJ
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AT moleiroaf childhoodonsetleberhereditaryopticneuropathyparticularfeatures
AT falcaoreisf childhoodonsetleberhereditaryopticneuropathyparticularfeatures
AT fariao childhoodonsetleberhereditaryopticneuropathyparticularfeatures