A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF DISEASE PROGRESSION REPORTED IN RPGR-ASSOCIATED X-LINKED RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA

Abstract

Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator–associated X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RPGR-associated XLRP) is a rare and severe form of retinitis pigmentosa, resulting in progressive visual impairment; however, disease progression data are limited. A systematic literature review was conducted to assess available data on disease progression in RPGR-associated XLRP. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and select congress abstracts were evaluated through June 2022. Eligible studies included results specific to RPGR-associated XLRP or populations with ≥80% of patients with retinitis pigmentosa carrying disease-causing RPGR variants. End points of interest included visual acuity, visual field, ellipsoid zone width, progression to blindness, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Fourteen studies met ≥1 end point of interest. Progressive declines in visual acuity, visual field, and ellipsoid zone width were reported across studies. Nearly all publications reported annual declines in visual acuity (3.5%–8.2%). Annual visual field declines ranged from 4.2% to 13.3%. Changes in retinal structure were also observed (ellipsoid zone width changes: −177 to −830 µm/year). Most studies measured blindness using visual acuity; visual field–based definitions resulted in blindness by age ∼25 years. Patient-reported outcome data were limited. Conclusion: Published evidence shows that patients with RPGR-associated XLRP experience progressive decline in visual acuity, visual field, and ellipsoid zone width, eventually resulting in blindness. Additional longitudinal data with standardized end points and expanded collection of patient-reported outcomes are needed to assess visual decline in RPGR-associated XLRP.