Long Term Follow Up of a Family with A3243G Mitochondrial Syndrome.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and multimodal imaging (MMI) features of a family (proband, sister and mother) with A3243G mitochondrial retinopathy and long-term follow up.

Methods: Medical and imaging records were retrospectively evaluated. Multimodal imaging included ultra-widefield color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Long-term MMI follow up ranged from 6 to 15 years and was available for each member.

Results: The proband (Case 1) exhibited rapidly progressive bilateral macular atrophy, corneal endothelial polymegathism, and an A3243G mutation in the mitochondrial DNA. The proband also endorsed a history of early-onset myocardial infarction (MI) ten years prior at the age of 42. The proband's sister (Case 2) only exhibited unilateral focal macular atrophy but admitted to a history of severe multiorgan systemic disease, including multiple sclerosis and major depression disorder. The proband's mother (Case 3), the only one with diabetes mellitus and hearing loss, originally presented with branch retinal vein occlusion in the right eye and pattern dystrophy in the left eye which evolved to geographic atrophy, OD > OS, 15 years later.

Conclusion: A3243G mitochondrial syndrome can exhibit heterogenous ocular and systemic features, even within members of the same family. The development of the characteristic maculopathy with early-onset MI warrants genetic testing. Early cardiac and systemic screening may be recommended in individuals with characteristic retinal findings and genetic confirmation.