Alpha-mannosidosis is an inherited lysosomal storage disease. The authors report three siblings (ages 38 to 47 years) with the rare adult variant. All three had late-onset ataxia and retinal degeneration, adding to hearing loss, cognitive impairment, and dysotosis multiplex. One sibling also had psychosis. MRI revealed cerebellar atrophy and predominantly parieto-occipital white matter changes. MR spectroscopy showed no evidence for demyelination. It appears that the disabling course of adult alpha-mannosidosis is caused by lysosomal accumulation rather than demyelination.
alpha-Mannosidosis is a rare lysosomal storage disease that is caused by an inherited deficiency of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase. Clinical symptoms include coarse facial features, skeletal involvement (dysostosis multiplex), hearing disabilities, mental retardation and hepatosplenomegaly. Only few cases with ocular symptoms have been reported, mainly with lenticular opacities. We report on two brothers with complex neurological symptoms who presented with late-onset retinal dystrophy and were followed up for 6 years.
As a more aggressive IOP-lowering procedure (intended filtration, use of antimetabolites) deep sclerectomy proved to be as effective as trabeculectomy. Nevertheless, the advantages of the more difficult surgical procedure concerning visual acuity, complications and surgical interventions were lost postoperatively.
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