Objective: Genetic characterization of a series of patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP).
Methods: All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination including computerized perimetry, electroretinography and occasionally fluorescein angiography. Blood samples were drawn for genetic analysis of candidate genes namely rhodopsin (RHO), peripherin-RDS, ROM-1, CRX, RP1 and NRL.
Results: 148 ADRP index cases were examined at our hospital from June 1991 to September 2001. Genetic analysis detected the following mutations: 29 different families (19.5%) carried a RHO mutation among which the Pro-347-Leu was the most frequent one, five different RP-1 mutations (3.3%), 2 RDS mutations and one NRL mutation, which is the second reported in the world literature.
Conclusions: RHO followed by RP1 are the most frequent ADRP-causing genes in our series as in other published ones, and RDS causes mainly macular dystrophies. Molecular characterization was possible in 37 families (25%) which is of great interest for visual prognosis and genetic counselling.