Increased Prevalence of Flammer Syndrome in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa.
BACKGROUND
"Retinitis pigmentosa" refers to a group of degenerative eye diseases with a genetic background. Flammer syndrome encompasses a set of symptoms and signs, mainly but not exclusively related to dysregulation of blood vessels. The purpose of the present study was to determine, with the help of a questionnaire, whether symptoms of Flammer syndrome occur more often in patients with retinitis pigmentosa than in controls.


METHODS
76 patients with retinitis pigmentosa (members of the Swiss patient organization for retinitis pigmentosa) and 274 control subjects answered a questionnaire (Flammer Syndrome Questionnaire) on 15 symptoms and signs of Flammer syndrome.


RESULTS
Seven of 15 symptoms and signs of Flammer syndrome were significantly more often positive in retinitis pigmentosa patients than in controls. Six additional symptoms and signs occurred non-significantly more often and 2 non-significantly less often in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinitis pigmentosa patients suffer significantly more often from symptoms and signs of the Flammer syndrome than control subjects. This includes low body mass index, low blood pressure, feeling cold, migraine, increased smell perception and perfectionism. The reason for this association between retinitis pigmentosa and Flammer syndrome and the potential implications need to be determined.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Switzerland (Chairman ad interim: Prof. S. Orguel).
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K
Konieczka
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Switzerland (Chairman ad interim: Prof. S. Orguel).
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S
Koch
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Switzerland (Chairman ad interim: Prof. S. Orguel).
A
A
Schoetzau
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Switzerland (Chairman ad interim: Prof. S. Orguel).
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MG
Todorova
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome