title: Ophthalmic Alterations in the Sturge-Weber Syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, and the Phakomatosis Pigmentovascularis: An Independent Group of Conditions?
abstract: The phakomatoses have been traditionally defined as a group of hereditary diseases with variable expressivity characterized by multisystem tumors with possible malignant transformation. The Sturge-Weber syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and the phakomatosis pigmentovascularis have the facial port-wine stain in common. Numerous pathophysiogenetic mechanisms have been suggested such as venous dysplasia of the emissary veins in the intracranial circulation, neural crest alterations leading to alterations of autonomic perivascular nerves, mutation of the GNAO gene in the Sturge-Weber syndrome, PIK3CA mutation in malformative/overgrowth syndromes such as the Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and the twin-spotting phenomenon in phakomatosis pigmentovascularis. Other features linked to the port-wine stain and typical to all of the three conditions are glaucoma and choroidal alterations. Glaucoma can be due to malformations of the anterior chamber or high episcleral venous pressure and in phakomatosis pigmentovascularis it can also be associated with angle hyperpigmentation. The choroid can be thickened in all diseases. Furthermore, choroidal melanocytosis in the phakomatosis pigmentovascularis can lead to malignant transformation. Although the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms still require clarification, similarities in ophthalmic manifestations make it reasonable to classify these diseases in an independent group.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, DAI Head/Neck, Umberto I Policlinic, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdolrahimzadeh
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Sense Organs, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scavella
authors.affiliation: Section of Ophthalmology, Policlinico Militare di Roma, Piazza Celimontana 50, 00184 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Felli
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Sense Organs, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruciani
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Contestabile
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department, University of Rome "Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Santi Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Recupero
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007715:Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D020752:Neurocutaneous Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013341:Sturge-Weber Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods