Evans syndrome in a patient with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a case report

One patient with a chromosome 22q11.2 deletion and Evans syndrome is reported in this paper. Microdeletions of 22q11.2 are the main etiology for DiGeorge syndrome, a disorder characterized by heart defects, immune deficiencies due to aplasia or hypoplasia of the thymus, and hypocalcemia. Evans syndrome refers to a hematological autoimmune disorder with autoimmune hemolytic anemia accompanied by immune thrombocytopenia. A wide range of autoimmune disorders have been described in DiGeorge syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome, including one prior report of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia. The patient reported herein strengthens the association between the 22q11.2 deletion spectrum and Evans syndrome.     

A child with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and a bilobed gallbladder

We present an 11-year-old girl with a chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion, velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), and a bilobed gallbladder as an incidental finding on abdominal sonography. The finding was confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).This is the first report of a gallbladder anomaly associated with a chromosome 22q11.2 deletion and the second report of a biliary tract anomaly associated with a mutation in the chromosome 22q11 region. We suggest that close attention be paid to the anatomy of the biliary tree in patients with mutations in the chromosome 22q11 region. Further study is warranted to determine the range and prevalence of biliary tract anomalies in this population.     

Thrombocytopenia in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Thrombocytopenia is a common finding in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (n=112) were analyzed along with 57 age-matched controls. Even after the exclusion of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, the mean platelet count was approximately 70% of the control population.     

Further delineation of 9q22 deletion syndrome associated with basal cell nevus (Gorlin) syndrome: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS; Gorlin syndrome) is an autosomal dominant disorder, characterized by a predisposition to neoplasms and developmental abnormalities. BCNS is caused by mutations in the human homolog of the Drosophila patched gene-1, PTCH1 , which is mapped on chromosome 9q22.3. Nonsense, frameshift, in-frame deletions, splice-site, and missense mutations have been found in the syndrome. Haploinsufficiency of PTCH1 , which is caused by interstitial deletion of 9q22.3, is also responsible for the syndrome. To date, 19 cases with interstitial deletion of long arm of chromosome 9 involving the region of q22 have been reported. We describe two unrelated patients with some typical features of BCNS associated with deletion of 9q21.33-q31.1 and determined the boundary of the deletion by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. The results showed that the size of deletions is between 15.33 and 16.04 Mb in patient 1 and between 18.08 and 18.54 Mb in patient 2. Although the size and breakpoints were different from those of previously reported cases, the clinical features are common to patients with 9q22 deletion associated with BCNS. Delineation of the 9q22 deletions and further consideration of the genes responsible for the characteristic manifestations may provide insight into this newly recognized deletion syndrome.     

FISH investigation of 22q11.2 deletion in patients with immunodeficiency and/or cardiac abnormalities

DiGeorge anomaly/velocardiofacial syndrome (DG/VCFS), called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in general, is the most common chromosomal deletion syndrome found in humans. Typical facial features, palatal defects, conotruncal abnormalities of the heart, aplasia/hypoplasia of the parathyroid glands and of thymus are characteristics of this syndrome. Deletions of chromosome 22q11.2 (del22q11.2) are the leading causes of DG7VCFS. We report on a systematic search by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for deletions of chromosomes 22q11.2 in patients with a clinical suspicion or diagnosis of DG/VCFS. Using FISH we studied a series of 43 patients with suspected DG/VCFS. In this study, a total of 43 patients were investigated for the presence of a 22q11.2 deletion over a two-year period. Del22q11.2 was detected in 5 of the 43 patients tested. All patients with deletion had hypocalcemia, 80% had cardiac defects, 40% had facial dysmorphism, 40% had immunodeficiency , and 20% had otolaryngeal abnormalities. Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion is a relatively common condition and is readily diagnosed by FISH. We suggest that FISH analysis of 22q11.2 deletion should be performed in the presence of combined of hypocalcemia and congenital cardiac malformations, with or without any characteristics of the disease. This may facilitate an early diagnosis in such patients.     

Growth hormone deficiency in patients with 22q11.2 deletion: expanding the phenotype

The list of findings associated with the 22q11.2 deletion is quite long and varies from patient to patient. The hallmark features include: conoruncal cardiac anomalies, palatal defects, thymic aplasia or hypoplasia, T cell abnormalities, mild facial dysmorphia, and learning disabilities. The 22q11.2 deletion has been seen in association with the DiGeorge sequence, velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, isolated conotruncal cardiac anomalies, and some cases of autosomal dominant Optiz G/BBB syndrome. Short stature has been seen in one to two thirds of children reported in the literature with a diagnosis of VCFS, but growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has not been described in conjunction with this diagnosis. We present 4 patients with a 22q11.2 deletion and short stature who were found to have abnormalities in the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor I axis. All had growth factors less than -2 SD for age and failed provocative growth hormone testing. Two patients were found to have abnormal pituitary anatomy. In our population, the incidence of GHD in 4 or 95 children with 22q11 deletion is significantly greater than the estimated incidence of GHD in the general population. Children with a 22q11.2 deletion appear to be at a greater risk for pituitary abnormalities. Therefore, those children with the 22q11.2 deletion and short stature or poor growth should be evaluated for GHD, as replacement growth hormone therapy may improve their growth velocity and final height prediction.     

Congenital microgastria and primary ciliary dyskinesia in a newborn with DiGeorge syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion.

BACKGROUND: Congenital microgastria is an uncommon result of impairment of normal foregut development and rotation during early embryology. Only about 50 cases have been reported in the literature, mostly associated with other multiple congenital anomalies. CASE REPORT: The case of a female newborn with multiple abnormalities, including cardiovascular malformation (type I truncus arteriosus communis) with deletion of chromosome 22q11.2, severe immunodeficiency (DiGeorge syndrome), microgastria, and impaired mucociliary function (primary ciliary dyskinesia) is reported. CONCLUSIONS: An association between the deletion of chromosome 22q11.2, microgastria, and impaired mucociliary function has never been observed before. A casual association seems highly unlikely and we can not exclude the possibility of genetic mechanisms that may link those syndromes.     

Safety of live viral vaccines in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome)

The package inserts of live viral vaccines include immunodeficiency as a contraindication. Nevertheless, patients with mild forms of immunodeficiency may benefit from vaccination. No published guidelines exist for the administration of these vaccines specifically to patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. This syndrome is also sometimes called DiGeorge syndrome and is associated with thymic hypoplasia and diminished T-cell numbers and has a wide spectrum of phenotypic features that include cardiac anomalies, dysmorphic facial features, and hypocalcemia. Patients generally exhibit a mild to moderate decrement in T-cell numbers with preservation of T-cell function. The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of side effects after live viral vaccine administration in a population with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The high frequency of this syndrome in the population (1:3000 children) mandates a greater understanding of the risks and benefits related to live viral vaccine administration. A retrospective analysis of vaccine adverse events was performed. The data acquisition form evaluated the frequency of live vaccine administration and the consequences of both vaccination and withholding the vaccine. Flow cytometric enumeration of T cells was performed as part of an immunologic evaluation. Thirty-two of 59 responders were vaccinated with the varicella vaccine. Only 9% of patients reported adverse events. However, 63% of unvaccinated children developed chickenpox. Comparison of patients who tolerated the vaccine with those who reported adverse events showed no statistically significant differences in current age (7 vs 5.7 years), age at vaccination (3 vs 2.5 years), or T-cell subset counts: CD3 (1951 vs 2083 cells/ microL), CD4 (1283 vs 1463 cells/ microL), and CD8 (530 vs 502 cells/ microL). Fifty-two of 59 responders were vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Twelve (23%) of 52 reported mild side effects, including fever, rash, and constitutional symptoms. No severe adverse reactions were reported. No patient reported natural disease with measles, mumps, or rubella. There were no statistically significant differences between the T-cell counts in the vaccinated group reporting side effects versus the vaccinated group without side effects (mean CD3 counts: 1928 vs 1736 cells/ microL; CD4 counts: 1250 vs 1127 cells/ microL; and CD8 counts: 528 vs 483 cells/ microL). In our study, patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had a similar incidence of adverse effects with varicella and MMR vaccines compared with that reported in the general population. All side effects were mild. However, in patients who did not receive the varicella vaccine, an overwhelming 63% contracted the disease. Patients who were not vaccinated against MMR did not develop natural disease. The data suggest that this is a cohort of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome who have tolerated live viral vaccinations without evidence of significant side effects. A prospective study could address whether there are T-cell thresholds below which vaccination is unsafe; however, the information that we present suggests that vaccinating children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion with live viral vaccines does not carry a significantly higher risk of adverse reactions compared with the general population, provided that they have no evidence of severe immunocompromise.     

Velofacial hypoplasia (Sedlackova syndrome): a variant of velocardiofacial (Shprintzen) syndrome and part of the phenotypical spectrum of del 22q11.2

In 1955, a pattern of velar hypoplasia causing hypernasal speech and associated facial dysmorphism was observed in 26 children of Czech origin. Further cases with submucous cleft and/or cardiac anomalies were described. In 1978 velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) was reported, a condition very similar to velofacial hypoplasia (Sedlackova syndrome) apart from overt clefts instead of velar hypoplasia. In 1990 it was suggested that both syndromes might be variants of the same clinical entity. To test this hypothesis we performed fluorescence in situ hybridisation using the DiGeorge/VCFS region specific probe D22S75 on 20 patients originally classified as Sedlackova syndrome as well as molecular investigations for a subset of these patients. A 22q11.2 deletion was found in 16/20 patients. Thus, our results confirm the aforementioned hypothesis and expand the long list of clinical diagnoses associated with del 22q11.2. CONCLUSION: Velofacial hypoplasia (Sedlackova syndrome) and velocardiofacial (Shprintzen) syndrome have a corresponding phenotype and are both associated with del 22q11.2.     

Immunologic features of chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome).

OBJECTIVES: To characterize immunologic function and clinical characteristics in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and determine whether there was significant change over time. METHODS: This study characterized the laboratory and clinical features of the immunodeficiency in a cohort of 195 patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and used cross-sectional and analysis of variance to compare the findings in different age groups with control patients. Changes over time were also characterized by a model effect method in a subset of patients who were studied serially. RESULTS: Diminished T cell counts in the peripheral blood are common in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The pattern of changes seen with aging in normal control patients was also seen in patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, although the decline in T cells was blunted. Autoimmune disease was seen in most age groups, although the types of disorders varied according to age. Infections were also common in older patients, though they were seldom life threatening. CONCLUSIONS: Slow declines in T cell populations are seen in chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Clinical manifestations of immunodeficiency, such as recurrent infection and autoimmune disease, were common in this population but had little relationship to specific immunologic laboratory features.     

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is the most common contiguous gene deletion syndrome in humans, caused by a microdeletion from chromosome 22 at the q11.2 locus. Moreover, it is one of the most common multiple anomaly syndromes associated with congenital heart disease and is certainly the most common syndrome causing conotruncal heart anomalies. The population prevalence of this syndrome is probably increasing because of the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart malformations. Presenting symptoms are highly variable because VCFS is often the trigger for a number of developmental malformation sequences, including DiGeorge sequence, Robin sequence, and Potter sequence. Because of the variability of the phenotypic expression of VCFS, the disorder has been delineated in several sets of literature from different areas of specialization, and from publications in the U.S., Eastern Europe, and Japan. The result has been nosologic differences with various names for the same disorder caused by a 22q11.2 deletion, including VCFS, Shprintzen syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, Sedlačková syndrome, Cayler syndrome, and conotruncal anomalies face syndrome. All of these labels represent exactly the same syndrome. Understanding the cause of the various phenotypes associated with VCFS is dependent on careful studies of genotype to phenoype matching. The deleted region in most cases of VCFS encompasses 3 million base pairs of DNA and 30 genes. The challenge is therefore to determine if the broad spectrum of anomalies are caused by one major gene, most or all of the deleted genes, or the interaction between the genes in the deleted region and other genes elsewhere in the genome. There is some evidence for each of these hypotheses. The ability to complete phenotype to genotype matching is enhanced by the recognition of more cases and the careful study of phenotypic expression. Towards this end, screening of cases with congenital heart disease is imperative and guidelines for screening are discussed.     

Chromosome 22q11 Deletion in Patients with Truncus Arteriosus

The association between truncus arteriosus and chromosome 22q11 deletion is well recognized, but the frequency of a chromosome 22q11 deletion has not been characterized in a large series of patients with truncus arteriosus, and little is known about cardiovascular morphologic features associated with a chromosome 22q11 deletion in this group of patients. We prospectively enrolled 50 consecutive patients with truncus arteriosus who were admitted to The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia between November 1991 and December 2001. Patients were studied for chromosome 22q11 deletion using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Correlations between anatomic features and chromosome 22q11 deletion were assessed. A chromosome 22q11 deletion was detected in 20 of the 50 patients (40%). Anatomic features that were significantly associated with a chromosome 22q11 deletion included a right-sided aortic arch, an abnormal aortic arch branching pattern, both abnormal sidedness and branching of the aortic arch, and the combined category of either abnormal sidedness or branching of the aortic arch. There was a trend toward the association of discontinuous pulmonary arteries with a chromosome 22q11 deletion. Interruption of the aortic arch and truncal valve morphology and function did not correlate significantly with the presence of a chromosome 22q11 deletion. In conclusion, a chromosome 22q11 deletion is common in patients with truncus arteriosus, and those with abnormal sidedness and/or branching of the aortic arch are significantly more likely to have a deletion. Clinically important anatomic variables, such as abnormalities of the truncal valve and interrupted aortic arch, were not associated with a chromosome 22q11 deletion in this series. Present address (D.B. McElhinney): Department of Cardiology, Childrens Hospital, Boston, MA     

Detection of 22 q11.2 hemizygous deletion by interphase FISH in a patient with features of CATCH 22 syndrome

We report an eight years female child with clinical and molecular cytogenetic findings consistent with CATCH 22 syndrome characterized by cardiac defect, typical facial dysmorphism, mental deficiency and chromosome 22 q11.2 deletion. Interphase FISH with 22q 11.2 probe demonstrated hemizygous deletion in 98.5% nuclei. Interphase FISH for diagnosis of CATCH 22 syndrome has not been reported previously from India to our knowledge.     

Two cases of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with anorectal anomalies and growth retardation

Clinical features associated with the deletion of 22q11.2 are highly variable. Most are diagnosed by cardinal congenital heart disease or hypoparathyroidism. In cases without major features, an early accurate diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is difficult. Congenital anorectal malformations (ARM), which can be detected soon after birth, have been rarely reported in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. We report two cases of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome with ARM who showed growth retardation. ARM was detected in both patients without congenital heart disease or hypoparathyroidism at early infancy and they were followed by pediatric surgeons. Later, failure to thrive or short stature became evident, and they consulted with pediatric endocrinologists who subsequently confirmed the diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion by fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. The combination of ARM and growth retardation may lead to an early diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.     

筛查染色体22q11.2缺失综合征在先天性心血管畸形中的意义

染色体22q11.2缺失综合征(22q111DS)又称DiGeorge综合征、腭-心-面综合征,临床表现极具多样性,可累及心血管、免疫系统、面容、内分泌系统,甚至语言发育、精神等多方面.荧光原位杂交能够检测到染色体22q11.2缺失.目前国内对本病认识尚不足,尚未建立规范的临床筛查体系,确诊率亦低.已报道的22q11D...     

22q11.2 deletion syndrome: DiGeorge, velocardiofacial, and conotruncal anomaly face syndromes.

A microdeletion of chromosome 22q11.2 is found in most patients with velocardiofacial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, and in some patients with Cayler cardiofacial and autosomal dominant Opitz-G/BBB syndromes. A wide spectrum of clinical findings accompanies the 22q11.2 deletion, without genotype or phenotype correlation even among affected family members. Classic features are dysmorphic facies, conotruncal cardiac defects, hypocalcemic hypoparathyroidism, T-cell mediated immune deficiency, and palate abnormalities. Less well recognized are learning, speech, feeding, and psychiatric disorders, and renal and musculoskeletal defects. Parathyroid and immune deficiencies in the same individual can progress or resolve with time. The 22q11.2 deletion can be inherited as an autosomal dominant or arise as a de novo deletion or translocation. Fluorescent in situ hybridization using cosmid probes mapping to the DiGeorge chromosomal region is a widely available method to detect the 22q11.2 deletion in metaphase chromosomes from cultured lymphocytes, amniocytes, or chorionic villi. The ubiquitin-fusion-degradation-1-like gene, expressed in embryonic branchial arches and in the conotruncus, appears to play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.     

Prenatally diagnosed case of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome associated with pulmonary artery aneurysm

Here, we report a new case with chromosome 22q11 deletion and cardiac anomaly diagnosed prenatally by echocardiography. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis demonstrated a heterozygous deletion at 22q11.2. Echocardiography revealed ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, and aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery and its branches. Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is rarely seen in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS). In this case, PAA was found by prenatal echocardiographic examination at the 25th week of gestation. To date, no prenatally diagnosed case of 22qDS with PAA has been reported. This is the first 22qDS case with PAA that was detected prenatally by FISH analysis.     

22q11.2DS deletion syndrome: developmental milestones in infants and toddlers

BACKGROUND: The majority of children with 22q11.2DS deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) have learning disabilities, and a substantial number have mental retardation. Although cognitive data have been reported on several samples of children with 22q11.2DS, data on their early developmental milestones are limited. METHODS: The present study used a retrospective design and asked parents to recall developmental milestones. The participants were 88 children with 22q11.2DS, 47 community controls, and 29 sibling controls. RESULTS: Although very early gross motor and expressive language milestones did not differ significantly from comparison groups, subsequent gross motor and expressive language milestones did, suggesting that children with 22q11.2DS may begin to lag behind their peers sometime after the first year of life in these two domains. These patterns were also apparent when a subset of intellectually comparable children (22q11.2DS, n = 40 vs community controls, n = 24) was analyzed. We further found that receptive language and social adaptive milestones did not differ from comparison samples in either the early or later period. Receptive language delays were predictive of later Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition Perceptual Organization Index scores, particularly in girls with 22q11.2DS. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that although receptive language may be an area of relative strength in the developmental profile of young children with 22q11.2DS, even mild receptive delays should not be overlooked in early interventions with children with this disorder.     

Phelan McDermid Syndrome: five patients description and report on the first case described in conjoined twins

Phelan McDermid Syndrome is caused by the loss of genetic material in a chromosome from pair 22, at the band q13.3. We describe five patients with deletion 22q13.3 in order to establish a genotype-phenotype association, and report the first case described in conjoined twins. We analyzed the perinatal history, psychomotor behavior, language, and the presence of minor dysmorphism. Karyotypes and in situ hibridization (FISH) for critical region 22q13.3 were performed to all patients. There were hypotonia, developmental delay, and delay or absence of language. A 22q13.3 deletion was detected in all patients described, two cases had a deletion and the other three had a ring of chromosome 22, one in a pure cell line, while the twins presented mosaicism. Karyotype and FISH for 22q11.2 critical region should be performed, with 22q13.3 control probe to detect the deletion of Phelan McDermid syndrome in all patients with clinical phenotype suggestive and evocative of velo-cardio-facial syndrome.     

Graves' disease in patients with 22q11.2 deletion.

We report 4 female patients and 1 male patient with a 22q11.2 deletion and Graves' disease diagnosed at age 27 months, 7, 10, 17, and 16 years, respectively. The clinical presentations were typical for hyperthyroidism, but 1 female infant had seizures in addition to symptoms of hyperthyroidism. All patients had elevated serum levels of thyroid hormones in association with suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. From these observations, we suggest that Graves' disease may be a part of the clinical spectrum associated with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.