The possible pathogenesis of macular caldera in patients with North Carolina macular dystrophy

Background: This study provides a detailed description of a Chinese family with North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD) and explores its possible pathogenesis.

Methods: Five individuals from a three-generation family underwent general ophthalmic examination, multi-imaging examinations and visual electrophysiology examinations when possible. Genetic characterization was carried out by target region sequencing and high-throughput sequencing in affected patients.

Results: Despite severe fundus changes, patients had relatively good visual acuity. Genetic analysis showed that affected patients had PRDM13 gene duplication and heterozygous mutations of the ABCA4 gene. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed an abnormal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer in patients with grade 2 lesions, while the neurosensory retina was relatively normal. In grade 3 patients, RPE and choroid atrophy were greater than that of the neurosensory retina, showing concentric atrophy.

Conclusions: RPE and choroidal atrophy were found to play an important role in the development of macular caldera.