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  • Title: A unique retinal epitheliopathy is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism-Dementia complex of Guam.
    Author: Steele JC, Wresch R, Hanlon SD, Keystone J, Ben-Shlomo Y.
    Journal: Mov Disord; 2015 Aug; 30(9):1271-5. PubMed ID: 26153661.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to examine whether a linear retinal pigment epitheliopathy is associated with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex of Guam. METHODS: A total of 918 Guamanian Chamorros, with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex, were examined cross-sectionally for linear retinal pigment epitheliopathy (LRPE). Overall, 239 Guamanians, who were neurologically asymptomatic, were followed for up to 20 years to determine the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex. RESULTS: The epitheliopathy was present in 59.7% (117 of 196) patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex, but in only 24.7% (178 of 722) of subjects who were neurologically asymptomatic (age- and sex-adjusted risk difference: 35.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.5-42.6; p < 0.0001). Prospectively, 15 of 50 cases with epitheliopathy developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex, compared to 4 of 189 cases without epitheliopathy (age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio: 13.1; 95% CI: 4.0-43.1; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex is associated with an LRPE and predicts future neurological disease. Identifying the cause of this retinopathy could provide an understanding about the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex and related diseases.
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