title: Mastocytosis-induced nyctalopia.
abstract: Systemic mastocytosis is characterized by an increased number of mast cells in multiple organs particularly skin. A 55-year-old man with mastocytosis presented with nyctalopia caused by malabsorption of vitamin A. Diagnosis was made by documenting a low vitamin A level and an ERG that showed rod-cone deficiency with rods affected more than cones. Vitamin A therapy led to return of good visual function. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of mastocytosis induced nyctalopia. Vitamin A deficiency should be considered as a potential cause of visual loss in patients with sudden onset of night blindness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lesser
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sugin
mesh_terms: D004596:Electroretinography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008415:Mastocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism