title: Novel therapy for transthyretin-related ocular amyloidosis: a pilot study of retinal laser photocoagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The occurrence of ocular complications associated with transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy increases with time, even after liver transplantation, which leads to a halt in the progression of systemic neurologic complications. This study investigated a new strategy to prevent ocular involvements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two interventional case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy who had progressive ocular manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used panretinal laser photocoagulation, which damages the retinal pigment epithelium, the main location for synthesis of amyloidogenic transthyretin in ocular tissues, to treat 1 eye of each patient. After laser photocoagulation, we performed general ophthalmic examinations every 3 months for 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fundus photography, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Panretinal laser photocoagulation clearly prevented progression of amyloid deposition in the vitreous and on the retinal surface in both cases during 3 years of follow-up. No serious complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panretinal laser photocoagulation is a safe and well-known procedure that offers a new treatment option to mitigate ocular manifestations in patients with transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. kawag@white.plala.or.jp
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaji
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Ryuhei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D028227:Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011228:Prealbumin