CASE REPORT   

Minerva Pediatrica 2002 February;54(1):57-62

Copyright © 2002 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Early-onset of septo-optic dysplasia. A case report with follow-up

Greco F., Finocchiaro M., Polizzi A., Caruso M.

The case of a nine-month'old girl with septo-optic dysplasia is reported. The patient suffered in neonatal life from severe hypoglycemia, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and nystagmus. At the age of 2 months ophtalmological examination revealed bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia; at the age of 9 months endocrinological investigations showed GH and ACTH deficiency and substitutive hormone therapy was started. MRI scans demonstrated dilatation of ventricles and pituitary ectopia. At the age of 27 months hypothyroidism due to TSH deficiency developed. The auxological and neurological follow-up is reported. The importance of direct ophtalmoscopy of the optic nerve in neonatal age is stressed: an early diagnosis can favourably influence the outcome of the disease.