title: Discordance for retinitis pigmentosa in two monozygotic twin pairs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetically heterogeneous diseases with progressive degeneration of the retina. The condition can be inherited as an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked trait.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on two female twin pairs. One twin of each pair is affected with RP, the other twin is unaffected, both clinically and functionally.Molecular analysis in both twins included zygosity determination, arrayed primer extension chip analysis for autosomal recessive and dominant RP, sequencing of the entire RPGR gene, and analysis of X-chromosome inactivation status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both unrelated twin pairs were genetically identical. Of the potential pathogenetic mechanisms, skewed X-inactivation was excluded on leukocytes. Autosomal recessive RP and autosomal dominant RP arrayed primer extension chip analysis result was completely normal, excluding known mutations in known genes as the cause of disease in the affected twins. Sequencing excluded mutations in RPGR. A postzygotic recessive or dominant genetic mutation of an RP gene is not impossible. A postfertilization error as a potential cause of uniparental isodisomy is unlikely albeit not entirely impossible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors report on the second and third unrelated identical twin pair discordant for RP. The exact cause of the condition and the explanation of the clinical discordance remain elusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieve V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Berghmans
authors.forename: Regina Halfeld Furtado
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coppieters
authors.forename: Otacílio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Maia
authors.forename: Walter Yukihiko
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lissens
authors.forename: Elfride
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Baere
authors.forename: Bart P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Leroy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields; D049951:X Chromosome Inactivation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; C099929:RPGR protein, human