Ocular manifestations in classic homocystinuria

Ophthalmic Genet. 2021 Feb;42(1):71-74. doi: 10.1080/13816810.2020.1821384. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Abstract

Background: Classic homocystinuria (HCU), or cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency, is a rare inborn error of methionine metabolism. Main clinical features may include skeletal and vascular manifestations, developmental delay, intellectual disability and eye disorders.

Material and methods: This is an observational and retrospective study aiming at describing eye abnormalities presented by a cohort of late-diagnosed HCU patients. Data regarding ophthalmological evaluation included visual acuity, refraction, biomicroscopy, Perkins tonometry, fundus examination, retinography, biometry, ocular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, anterior segment photography and topography.

Results: Ten patients with HCU (20 eyes) were included. The most frequent findings were ectopia lentis(n = 20) and myopia (n = 9). Biometry, ultrasound, OCT and topography findings were available for four patients. One patient had keratoconus; one had abnormal retinal pigmentation; and two had lens surgery scars with irregular astigmatism.

Conclusions: Eye abnormalities are very frequent in late-diagnosed HCU patients. The presence of ectopia lentis should always raise the diagnostic hypothesis of HCU.

Keywords: ectopialentis; CBS deficiency; Classic homocystinuria; eye abnormalities.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Astigmatism / etiology
  • Astigmatism / pathology*
  • Ectopia Lentis / etiology
  • Ectopia Lentis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Homocystinuria / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myopia / etiology
  • Myopia / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult