Alagille syndrome and optic pit.
BACKGROUND
Optic disc anomalies are frequently associated with Alagille syndrome. We report here the first case of a patient with Alagille syndrome combined with optic pit and serous macular detachment.


METHODS
A male patient with Alagille syndrome was referred from the pediatric hepatology department for investigation of visual loss in the right eye. Anterior segment examination showed evidence of posterior embryotoxon, confirmed by gonioscopic evaluation. Dilated fundus examination revealed serous macular detachment and optic pit.


RESULTS
OCT 3 scans confirmed the clinical findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Optic pit is uncommon and should prompt a search for genetic disorders or development abnormalities. The association between the two syndromes in this patient might be due to failure of correct neuroectodermal development, for which a common genetic pathway is likely.
Fea
Antonio
A
Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Ophthalmology Section, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. antoniofea@interfree.it
Grosso
Andrea
A
Rabbione
Marilena
M
Grignolo
Federico
F