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Literature record

Clinical and molecular analysis of children with central pulverulent cataract from the Arabian Peninsula.

PMID 22267527 | DOI 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2011-301053 · The British journal of ophthalmology · 2012

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AIM: To clinically and genetically characterise central pulverulent cataract in a consecutive cohort of children from the Arabian Peninsula who were referred for ophthalmic evaluation. METHODS: Ophthalmic examination, homozygosity mapping in a consanguineous family and candidate gene analysis. RESULTS: All 16 children (4-16 years old, mean 9 years; seven girls and nine boys from 10 families) had bilateral central nuclear dust-like lenticular opacities. Two patients (one family) had cortical riders and six had associated strabismus. Cycloplegic retinoscopy was usually hyperopic (13/16; right eye spherical equivalent +0.50 to +6.25 dioptres, mean +3.50) but was sometimes myopic (3/16; right eye spherical equivalent -0.50 to -11.75, mean -6.50). In children with amblyopia (5/16), the cause was significant uncorrected ametropias rather than the lens opacities. Three patients had uncomplicated unilateral cataract surgery suggested by an outside second opinion that did not improve best-corrected visual acuity. Homozygosity mapping for one consanguineous family suggested the candidate gene CRYBB1. Sequencing of this gene revealed a homozygous c.171del mutation (p.N58Tfs*107) with a shared haplotype in all 16 children. In asymptomatic carrier parents from five of the six families available for careful slit-lamp examination, occasional central dot lenticular opacities were documented. CONCLUSIONS: Central pulverulent cataract in this consanguineous population does not significantly impact visual acuity during early childhood, can be associated with significant ametropias (with amblyopia and/or strabismus) and is specific for a homozygous CRYBB1 founder mutation. Primary management in children is typically spectacle correction based on cycloplegic retinoscopy to treat significant refractive error rather than paediatric cataract surgery.

Validated evidence

TypeEntitySource evidenceConfidenceExtractor
geneCRYBB1“Homozygosity mapping for one consanguineous family suggested the candidate gene CRYBB1.”0.98hgnc_dict_v1
phenotypecongenital cataract“Clinical and molecular analysis of children with central pulverulent cataract from the Arabian Peninsula.”0.93phenotype_alias_lexicon_v2
populationPopulation“METHODS: Ophthalmic examination, homozygosity mapping in a consanguineous family and candidate gene analysis. RESULTS: All 16 children (4-16 years old, mean 9 years; seven girls and nine boys from 10 families) had bilateral central nuclear dust-like lenticular opacities. Homozygosity mapping for one consanguineous family suggested the candidate gene CRYBB1. CONCLUSIONS: Central pulverulent cataract in this consanguineous population does not significantly impact visual acuity during early childhood, can be associated with significant ametropias (with amblyopia and/or strabismus) and is specific for a homozygous CRYBB1 founder mutation.”0.80saudi_context_rules_v1
variantc.171del“Sequencing of this gene revealed a homozygous c.171del mutation (p.N58Tfs*107) with a shared haplotype in all 16 children.”0.95hgvs_regex_v1
variantp.N58Tfs“Sequencing of this gene revealed a homozygous c.171del mutation (p.N58Tfs*107) with a shared haplotype in all 16 children.”0.95hgvs_regex_v1