Roth spots in a Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome

Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2023 Aug 22. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001479. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the molecular diagnosis and atypical ocular presentation of a patient who suffered for a Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome associated with juvenile polyposis (JP) syndrome.

Methods: This is a case report of a patient that underwent fundus examen, brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and arteriography. Genetic testing was performed by next-generation-sequencing (NGS).

Results: A 35-year-old woman presented with right hemiplegia with right homonymous lateral hemianopia and homolateral complete sensory deficit. She also had Roth spots in her left fundus. Genetic testing revealed a pathogenic variation in the heterozygous state in the SMAD-4 gene (c.1245_1248del).

Conclusion: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HTT) also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disease which reveals mostly with epistaxis and cutaneous telangiectasias. Our clinical case reports Roth spots in the context of HTT associated with juvenile polyposis syndrome. SMAD-4 mutation may explain the presence of a carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm which is not a lesion usually found in HTT.