Publication
[Paraneoplastic retinopathy in 2 patients with breast carcinoma]
Journal Paper/Review - Jan 1, 1997
Huober Jens, Holz F G, Schmid H, Nölle B, Bellmann C, Krastel H, Wallwiener D, Bastert G
Units
PubMed
Citation
Type
Journal
Publication Date
Issn Print
Pages
Brief description/objective
Paraneoplastic retinopathies are rare paraneoplastic phenomena resulting in retinal degeneration. They occur in association with different tumor types, yet most frequently encountered in small cell carcinoma of the lung. Clinical symptoms may be present before the diagnosis of the underlying malignancy. They are characterized clinically by progressive visual loss with ring scotomas, photopsia and night-blindness. An autoimmune disorder is suggested. In the sera of patients antiretinal antibodies may be detected that are sometimes reactive with the 23 kD retinal antigen recoverin, a photoreceptorprotein. We report on two patients with breast cancer who developed paraneoplastic retinopathy during the course of disease. Immunologic tests showed antiretinal antibodies that were not reactive with the 23 kD retinal antigen recoverin.