Improvement of reduced electroretinographic responses in thymoma-associated retinopathy: a case report and literature review

An unusual presentation of thymoma: dysgeusia, ulcerative colitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, autoimmune retinopathy and myasthenia gravis

“…Those with ARA other than anti-recoverin antibodies appear to have better visual prognosis, with stabilisation of retinopathy following thymectomy, corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin in one report 22. In addition, patients with non-thymoma-related paraneoplastic retinopathy without ARA are deemed to exhibit a milder course of ocular disease, with relatively preserved visual function 19.…”

“…Thymoma and paraneoplastic retinopathy have been reported in sparse case reports in the literature, with the onset of retinopathy largely preceding the diagnosis of the thymoma 17–23. Thymic dysfunction is suggested to trigger autoantibodies targeting retinal antigens, leading to photoreceptor degeneration and progressive loss of visual function.…”

“…Those with anti-recoverin antibodies exhibited severe deterioration in visual function despite thymectomy, with one patient ending up with no perception of light 17 18 20. It may be that once anti-recoverin antibodies are in circulation, thymectomy is insufficient to suppress further retinal cell death 22. Notably, one report demonstrates elimination of anti-recoverin antibodies following thymectomy and immunosuppression with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis 18…”