Genetic heterogeneity in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy; exclusion of the EVR1 locus on chromosome 11q in a large autosomal dominant pedigree.
OBJECTIVE
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is associated with mutations in the Norrie disease gene in X linked pedigrees and with linkage to the EVR1 locus at 11q13 in autosomal dominant cases. A large autosomal dominant FEVR family was studied, both clinically and by linkage analysis, to determine whether it differed from the known forms of FEVR.


METHODS
Affected members and obligate gene carriers from this family were examined by slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and in some cases fluorescein angiography. Patient DNAs were genotyped for markers at the EVR1 locus on chromosome 11q13.


RESULTS
The clinical evaluation in this family is consistent with previous descriptions of FEVR pedigrees, but linkage analysis proves that it has a form of FEVR genetically distinct from the EVR1 locus on 11q.


CONCLUSIONS
This proves that there are at least three different loci associated with comparable FEVR phenotypes, a situation similar to that existing for many forms of retinal degeneration.
Bamashmus
M A
MA
Molecular Medicine Unit, CSB, St James's University Hospital, Leeds University, Leeds, UK.
Downey
L M
LM
Inglehearn
C F
CF
Gupta
S R
SR
Mansfield
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics*