Beyond the Spicules: Atypical Retinitis Pigmentosa in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome

Ruchi Shukla

Department of Ophthalmology, AIIMS, Raebareli, India.

Pragati Garg

Department of Ophthalmology, AIIMS, Raebareli, India.

Ashutosh Kumar Mishra

Department of Neurology, AIIMS, Raebareli, India.

Nilakshi Banerjee *

Department of Ophthalmology, AIIMS, Raebareli, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive ciliopathy with multisystem involvement. We present the case of a 7-year-old boy who presented with photophobia and difficulty seeing in dim light. Examination revealed central obesity, bilateral post-axial polydactyly of the feet, crowded teeth, and micropenis. His best-corrected visual acuity was 6/9 in both eyes. Fundus examination showed pale optic discs and attenuated arterioles without classical bone spicule pigmentation, suggestive of retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento. A clinical diagnosis of BBS was established based on the presence of multiple primary diagnostic features. The presence of dental and genital anomalies highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and care. This report contributes to the limited literature on BBS from India and reinforces the significance of recognizing atypical phenotypes, especially in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: Bardet-Biedl syndrome, retinal dystrophies, ciliopathies paediatric genetic disorders, photophobia


How to Cite

Shukla, Ruchi, Pragati Garg, Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, and Nilakshi Banerjee. 2025. “Beyond the Spicules: Atypical Retinitis Pigmentosa in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome”. Ophthalmology Research: An International Journal 20 (5):1-5. https://doi.org/10.9734/or/2025/v20i5471.

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