NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/handicap/8517

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-30 | 1.8 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!olivea!bunker!sheldev.shel.isc-br.com!wtm
From: [e-mail] (Jim Marks)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Retinitis pigmentosa
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 30 Dec 92 15:31:20 GMT
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Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jim Marks)
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Index Number: 26932

[Note from Bill McGarry - forwarded from the Blind-L mailing list]

In reply to questions about treatment of retinitis
pigmentosa:

Hello,

I have retinitis pigmentosa as do two out of eight
of my siblings.  We have the recessive form of the
disease.  One of my brothers has been involved in a
study of a drug which retards the progress of the
degeneration.  He has been involved in the program
since the mid 1980's.  It seems to be working
because he is still driving and I am a cane
traveler, yet we are only one year apart in age.
The place administering the study is in Boston, Ma,
at the Boston Eye and Ear Infirmary.  The results
of the study have not yet been released, but will
be soon.  My brother does not even know what it is
he has been taking all these years.  In addition to
the drug study the Infirmary has been identifying
the genes which cause RP.  It is likely that they
have identified, for the first time, a recessive
gene evidenced by members of my family.  This
information will lead to further treatments.  It is
my understanding that some identification and
treatment for dominant strains of RP have already
begun.  I am not sure what is entailed.

Now I would like to conclude with a question of my
own.  I haveID heard that RP does cause greater
incidents of cataracts.  Does anyone know if this
is true?

Jim Marks
[phone] (Voice/Text)
InterNet [e-mail]