BACKGROUND: Malattia Leventinese (ML) is a genetically homogeneous macular dystrophy with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Ophthalmoscopically it is recognisable by a radial pattern of drusen-like deposits in the macula and by parapapillary deposits, named Forni's verrucosities. The aim of this study is to describe optical coherence tomographic (OCT) findings and to compare them with histological data.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients underwent ophthalmological examination, angiography and OCT. Diagnosis was confirmed by genetic analysis of the R345W mutation. A histopathological study of an ML donor eye was performed.
RESULTS: OCT revealed a diffuse RPE-choriocapillaris thickening with nodular features in the macular and parapapillary areas. The protrusions reached as far as the outer nuclear layer.
CONCLUSIONS: OCT is a non-invasive technique that provides a cross-sectional picture of the retina comparable to a histological section. In ML, OCT revealed a diffuse alteration of the RPE-Bruch's membrane complex. The macular and parapapillary nodular lesions are the tomographic equivalents of drusen and Forni's verrucosities.