Bilateral NAION and GPIbα gene

BACKGROUND: It has been previously reported that one copy of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) B alleles of the GPIbα gene increases the risk of non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and the second eye involvement. This is the first case where the presence of both alleles is associated with bilateral NAION. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old male presented with loss of vision in one eye and was diagnosed with NAION. The following year, he suffered another attack of NAION in the fellow eye. Genetic testing showed that he had both copies of VNTR B alleles of the GPIbα gene. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of bilateral NAION in the presence of two copies of VNTR B alleles of the GPIbα gene. This may have further implications for the function of platelet glycoproteins.