Norrie Disease: NDP Gene Deletion/Duplication
Condition Description
NDP-related retinopathies are X-linked recessive disorders characterized by very early childhood eye diseases/disorders due to degenerative and proliferative changes of the neuroretina. The spectrum of retinal findings ranges from Norrie disease (ND) to X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), including some cases of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), Coats disease, and advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). These phenotypes appear to be a continuum of retinal findings with considerable overlap. The ocular findings that permit a presumptive diagnosis of an NDP-related retinopathy include the following:
Bilateral, often symmetric, involvement of the eyes
Normal-sized eyes, with normal anterior chambers and usually clear lenses at birth
Vitreous abnormalities (hemorrhage, membranes, detachment, and/or vitreoretinal attachments)
Presence of fibrous and vascular retinal changes at birth with progressive changes through childhood or adolescence
The most severe phenotype is Norrie disease (ND). Retinal findings include greyish-yellow fibrovascular masses (pseudogliomas), which appear in the first few months of life and result in total blindness. Approximately 50% of individuals with ND show some form of progressive mental disorder, often with psychotic features, and about one-third of patients develop sensorineural deafness in the second decade. In addition, some individuals have more complex phenotypes, including growth failure and seizures.
Less severe phenotypes include: persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV), characterized by a fibrotic white stalk from the optic disk to the lens; X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (XL-FEVR), characterized by peripheral retinal vascular anomalies with or without fibrotic changes; retinopathy of prematurity (ROP); and Coats disease, an exudative proliferative vasculopathy. Phenotypes can vary within families.
The diagnosis of NDP-related retinopathies relies upon a combination of clinical findings and molecular genetic testing of NDP (Xp11.4), the only gene known to be associated with NDP-related retinopathies. Sequence analysis identifies disease-causing mutations in about 85% of affected males. Approximately 15% of mutations are deletions involving all or part of the NDP gene. Males with NDP deletions appear to exhibit a more severe phenotype than those with non-deletion mutations. In addition to the ocular manifestations of ND, affected individuals with a deletion may also have microcephaly, severe-to-profound mental retardation, seizures, myoclonus, somatic growth failure, and/or delayed puberty.
Rarely, a partial or mild ocular phenotype occurs in carrier females, presumably secondary to non-random X-chromosome inactivation. The majority of mothers of a male proband are carriers of an NDP disease-causing mutation, even when the family history is negative. Rarely, affected males have a de novo mutation. Women who are carriers may have a germline mutation or may have inherited the mutant gene.
For patients with a suspected NDP-related retinopathy, sequence analysis is recommended as the first step in mutation identification. For patients in whom mutations are not identified by full gene sequencing, deletion/duplication analysis is appropriate.
Click here for the GeneTests summary on this condition.
Genes (1)
Indications
This test is indicated for:
- Confirmation of a clinical diagnosis of an NDP-related retinopathy in individuals who have tested negative for sequence analysis
- Carrier testing in adult females with a family history of an NDP-related retinopathy who have tested negative for sequence analysis
Methodology
Detection
Specimen Requirements
Infants and Young Children (<2 years of age): 2-3 ml
Children > 2 years of age to 10 years old: 3-5 ml
Older Children & Adults: 5-10 ml
Autopsy: 2-3 ml unclotted cord or cardiac blood
3µg
Isolation using the Perkin Elmer™Chemagen™ Chemagen™ Automated Extraction method or Qiagen™ Puregene kit for DNA extraction is recommended.
Special Instructions
Submit copies of diagnostic biochemical test results with the sample, if appropriate. Contact the laboratory if further information is needed.
Sequence analysis is required before deletion/duplication analysis by targeted CGH array. If sequencing is performed outside of EGL Genetics, please submit a copy of the sequencing report with the test requisition.
Related Tests
- Sequencing analysis of the NDP gene is available (YL) and is required before deletion/duplication analysis.
- ACGH array-based test for deletion/duplication analysis of 64 differentX-linked intellectual disability genes is available (OL).
- Prenataltesting is available to adult females who are confirmed carriers ofmutations. Please contact the laboratory genetic counselor to discussappropriate testing prior to collecting a prenatal specimen.