Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.54(3) > 1009633

Jo, Cheon, Kim, and Jung: A Case of Retinal Pigmentary Degeneration in PKAN

Abstract

Purpose

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), also known as neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation is an extremely rare degenerative disease. The present study reports a case of retinal pigmentary changes in PKAN.

Case summary

A 6-year-old girl presented with night blindness and developmental delay. Neurologic examination revealed toe gait and dystonia. Ocular examination showed retinal pigmentary change in the entire retina without optic atrophy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed iron deposits in the basal ganglia, the so-called eye of the tiger sign. Genetic tests confirmed a mutation in the gene encoding pantothenate kinase 2. Electroretinography demonstrated severe loss of rod and cone responses, prominently reduced in the rod response. The patient was diagnosed with PKAN and pharmacologic treatment started.

Conclusions

In the case of systemic neurological abnormalities with pigmentary retinal change, PKAN should be considered as a differential diagnosis.

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Figure 1.
Fundus photographs show scattered bone-spicule formations, peripheral retinal depigmentation, and the retinal vessel changes in both eyes (A, B).
jkos-54-529f1.tif
Figure 2.
Electroretinography demonstrated severe loss of rod and cone responses, prominently reduced in rod response.
jkos-54-529f2.tif
Figure 3.
Brain M R shows focal high signal intensity within the low signal intensity, in both globus pallidus in T2W I (T2-weighted) & SW I (susceptibility weighted image).
jkos-54-529f3.tif
Figure 4.
In partial sequence of PANK2 gene, there are c.1154_ 1155 ins(T), c.1319G > C mutation on exon3 and exon 4 (blue arrow).
jkos-54-529f4.tif
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