title: Transthyretin-related vitreous amyloidosis in different endemic areas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  to investigate the vitreous opacity in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) in two major endemic areas, Japan and Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  we obtained clinical data for 90 patients with vitreous opacity that was associated with FAP amyloidogenic transthyretin (ATTR) Val30Met; 18 Japanese patients and 72 Swedish patients. We reviewed medical records at Kumamoto University Hospital in Japan and Umeå University Hospital in Sweden. We evaluated the characteristics of the patients, systemic and ocular histories, clinical findings and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  swedish patients were significantly older at the onset of vitreous opacity (mean age 67.8 years) than were Japanese patients (47.6 years). A similar age difference was found for the onset of polyneuropathy. In addition, Swedish patients without polyneuropathy were significantly older (74.1 years) at the onset of vitreous opacity than those with polyneuropathy (64.6 years). A significant difference in the occurrence of vitreous opacity as the only manifestation of FAP was seen for Swedish patients (35%) compared with Japanese patients (6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  swedish FAP ATTR Val30Met patients appeared to develop vitreous opacity later and more frequently compared with Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, 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: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sandgren
authors.forename: Ole B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Suhr
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D028227:Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013548:Sweden; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D011228:Prealbumin