Case report: Grönblad-Strandberg syndrome

Objective: To present a case of secondary type 2 choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and exudative maculopathy in a patient with Grönblad-Strandberg syndrome. Methods: A 37-year-old male was admitted with bilateral progressive painless visual acuity loss and metamorphopsias. A thorough ophthalmologic and clinical examination was performed. Results: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on presentation was 20/ 200 OD (Oculus Dexter) and 20/ 60 OS (Oculus Sinister). Fundus examination revealed angioid streaks and subretinal hemorrhages on OU (Oculus Uterque), macular fibrosis on OD and “peau d’orange” pigmentary mottling on OS. Leakage areas on fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) revealed active CNV on OU, which was confirmed by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The presence of typical “plucked chicken” skin lesions in the latero-cervical area and their biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). Consequently, the diagnosis of Grönblad-Strandberg syndrome was established. Conclusions: Every new diagnosis of angioid streaks entails not only a thorough ophthalmologic evaluation for secondary sight-threatening complications, but also a multidisciplinary evaluation due to the possibility of severe underlying systemic disease. Abbreviations: BM = Bruch’s membrane, RPE = Retinal Pigmented Epithelium, PXE = Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum, ABCC6 = ATP binding cassette subtype C number 6, CNV = Choroidal Neovascularization, BCVA = Best-Corrected Visual Acuity, OD = Oculus Dexter, OS = Oculus Sinister, OU = Oculus Uterque, FFA = Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, OCT = Optical Coherence Tomography, IPO = Intraocular Pressure, ECG = Electrocardiogram, anti-VEGF = anti-vascular endothelial growth factor