A number of different studies have shown that neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF) support the survival of retinal ganglion neurons during a variety if insults. Recently, we have reported that that eye NGF administration can protect also photoreceptor degeneration in a mice and rat with inherited retinitis pigmentosa. However, the evidence that NGF acts directly on photoreceptors ...

PURPOSE To screen for possible disease-causing mutations in rhodopsin (RHO), pre-mRNA processing factor 31 (PRPF31), retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1), and inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 1 (IMPDH1) genes in Indian patients with isolated and autosomal dominant forms of retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Information on such data is not available in India and hence this study was undertaken. METHODS B...

Mammalian photoreceptors contain specialised connecting cilia that connect the inner (IS) to the outer segments (OS). Dysfunction of the connecting cilia due to mutations in ciliary proteins are a common cause of the inherited retinal dystrophy retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Mutations affecting the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) protein is one such cause, affecting 10-20% of all peopl...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the combination of Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis (FHU) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in the same patient is coincidental or represents a true association. METHODS We have examined the frequency of FHU in 338 patients with RP and in 1984 patients who were seen in our primary care ophthalmic clinic because of reasons other than RP. RESULTS Of 338 patients with ...

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a progressive inherited retinal disease characterized by nyctalopia, visual field constriction, and reduced full-field electroretinograms. The progressive loss of photoreceptors leads to vision loss at the end stage of RP. The prevalence of RP is approximately 1/4,000. Since it is one of the major causes of visual impairment worldwide, morphological and functional a...

BACKGROUND Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary genetic disease causing bilateral retinal degeneration. RP is a leading cause of blindness resulting in incurable visual impairment and drastic reduction in the Quality of life of the patients. Second Sight Medical Products Inc. developed Argus II, a retinal prosthesis system for treating RP. Argus II is the world's first ever-commercial impl...

PURPOSE Retinitis pigmentosa 1 (RP1) is a major gene responsible for both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We have previously identified three disease-causing mutations out of 174 RP patients. In this study, we investigated a new cohort of Chinese RP patients to further evaluate the contribution of RP1 mutations to cause RP. METHODS A group of 55 nonsyndro...

Mutations in almost 200 genes are associated with hereditary retinal diseases. Of these diseases, retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common and is genetically and clinically highly heterogeneous. At least 62 genes are associated with RP and mutations in these genes account for approximately half of the cases of disease. In the present study, mutations in the CHM gene, which are known to asso...

To identify the cause of a sudden binocular vision decrease in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and bilateral idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis is difficult, but early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve the prognosis. Here, we report a 6-year-old boy with a progressive binocular vision decrease in 38 days. The patient had a history of night blindness, a mottled retina without...

PURPOSE To identify the genetic defects underlying retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in Pakistani families. METHODS Genome-wide high-density single-nucleotide-polymorphism microarray analysis was performed using the DNA of nine affected individuals from two large families with multiple consanguineous marriages. Data were analyzed to identify homozygous regions that are shared by affected sibs in each...