A Comprehensive Review of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and Its Association with Multiple Sclerosis-Like Phenotypes Known as Harding’s Disease

Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) stands as a distinctive maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder marked by painless, subacute central vision loss, primarily affecting young males. This review covers the possible relationship between LHON and multiple sclerosis (MS), covering genetic mutations, clinical presentations, imaging findings, and treatment options. LHON is associated with mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), notably m.11778G>A, m.3460G>A, and m.14484T>C, affecting complex…

Family Planning in Genetic Optic Atrophies in Israel, a Case Series and a Discussion of Ethical Considerations

CONCLUSION: We describe how genetic advancements have made it possible for patients with the 4 most common hereditary optic atrophies to fulfill their wish to have children without visually threatening genetic mutations. We also review the recent literature on the penetrance of optic atrophy in OA-mutation carriers and raise 2 significant ethical considerations: the reduction of a future life to a non-life-threatening impairment and that of public expenditure for non-life-threatening conditions.

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy: Update on current diagnosis and treatment

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a fairly prevalent mitochondrial disorder (1:50,000) arising from the dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which eventually leads to apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. The usual presentation is that of a young male with a sequential reduction in visual acuity. OCT has been used to study the pattern of optic nerve involvement in LHON, showing early thickening of the inferior and superior retinal nerve fibre layer and ganglion cell…

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Czechia and Slovakia: Quality of life and costs from patient perspective

CONCLUSION: The results of this study clearly show that patients with LHON and their families face an extensive socioeconomic burden related to this rare disease. Early, timely and appropriate access to diagnosis, treatment, and reimbursement decisions, but also to psychological counselling and services may help the patients and their relatives adapt and cope with the challenging aspects of vision loss and life with the disease.

Gene therapy for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy

INTRODUCTION: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is among the most frequent inherited mitochondrial disease, causing a severe visual impairment, mostly in young-adult males. The causative mtDNA variants (the three common are m.11778 G>A/MT-ND4, m.3460 G>A/MT-ND1, and m.14484T>C/MT-ND6) by affecting complex I impair oxidative phosphorylation in retinal ganglion cells, ultimately leading to irreversible cell death and consequent functional loss. The gene therapy based on allotopic expression…

Maculopapillary Bundle Degeneration in Optic Neuropathies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Degeneration of the maculopapillary bundle (MPB) is a prominent feature in a spectrum of optic neuropathies. MPB-selective degeneration is seen in specific conditions, such as nutritional and toxic optic neuropathies, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and dominant optic atrophy (DOA). Despite their distinct etiologies and clinical presentations, which encompass variations in age of incidence and monocular or binocular onset, these disorders share a core molecular…

Prevalence of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in the Community of Madrid (Spain), estimation with a capture-recapture method

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LHON estimated in the ACM was lower than in other European countries. Population-based registries of rare diseases require the incorporation of confirmed cases provided by clinicians to asure the best completeness of data. The use of more specific coding for rare diseases in healthcare information systems would facilitate the detection of cases. Further epidemiologic studies are needed to assess potential factors that may influence the penetrance of LHON.