To assess the involvement of TIMP3 in a variety of other macular dystrophies, the authors have screened this gene for disease-causing mutations in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), adult vitelliform macular dystrophy (AVMD), central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD), syndrome-associated macular dystrophies, cone-rod dystrophy, and a group with unspecified macular degeneration.
Mutations in the VMD2 gene are associated with juvenile-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy (Best disease) and adult vitelliform macular dystrophy but not age-related macular degeneration.
Thus, our results demonstrate that a significant portion of AVMD patients (18%) carry point mutations in peripherin/RDS, suggesting that this gene is frequently involved in the pathogenesis of this macular disorder.
Mutations in the VMD2 gene are associated with juvenile-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy (Best disease) and adult vitelliform macular dystrophy but not age-related macular degeneration.