Atrioventricular septal defect and type A postaxial polydactyly without other major associated anomalies: A specific association

Four children are described, (three black and one white, two boys and two girls) with type A postaxial polydactyly. All four of them, in addition, had either a partial or complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). None of these children had associated major malformations. Minor anomalies were observed (e.g., two patients with hypersegmentation of the sternal segments, one patient with undescended testes, one patient with hypoplastic lumbar vertebra, and one patient with a degree of craniofacial abnormality). Chromosome analysis was carried out for three of the four patients, and was normal in all of them. It is suggested that there is a specific association between type A postaxial polydactyly and the AVSD found in each of these patients. This picture does not conform to, but bears some resemblance to, the Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.     

Hydrometrocolpos,postaxial polydactyly,and hypothalamic hamartoma in a patient with confirmed Pallister-Hall syndrome: a clinical overlap with McKusick-Kaufman syndrome

We present a preterm-born girl with polydactyly of both hands and massive hydrometrocolpos, the latter due to vaginal atresia. This association led initially to the diagnosis of McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (MKKS). However, additional features, including characteristic radiographic findings of the hands and a large hypothalamic tumour, presumably a hamartoma, favoured the diagnosis of Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS), which was then genetically confirmed by detection of a GLI3 mutation (Q717X). This is the second genetically confirmed case revealing the previously described association of PHS with hydrometrocolpos due to vaginal atresia as a clinical overlap with MKKS.     

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) with postaxial polydactyly of the foot: 4-year follow-up until improvement of dysbasia

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS), also known as 'broad thumbs syndrome' or 'broad thumb-hallux syndrome', is a malformation syndrome characterized by the triad of broad thumbs or first toes, a peculiar facial expression called 'comical face' and mental retardation. Although various malformations are combined with the triad, polydactyly is rare. We treated a male patient with RTS complicated by postaxial polydactyly of the foot. His clinical course was different from typical patients with polydactyly, especially in the aspect of walking development. Osteoplasty-combined surgery, which was ideal for anatomical reconstruction, was performed on the patient at 2 years and 11 months of age. A 4-year follow-up period was required until there was an improvement of dysbasia.     

Possible new autosomal recessive syndrome of congenital lymphoedema, nail dystrophy and esotropia in a Saudi family

This paper presents a family case of two brothers and two sisters with congenital lower limb lymphoedema, nail dystrophy, and with esotropia in two of them. They are offspring of healthy parents who are first cousins. This combination of congenital lymphoedema, nail dystrophy and esotropia in this sibship differs from other reported cases of congenital lymphoedema and most likely constitutes a previously unrecognized autosomal recessive syndrome.     

Poly-, syn- and oligodactyly,aplasia or hypoplasia of fibula,hypoplasia of pelvis and bowing of femora in three sibs—A new autosomal recessive syndrome

An apparently hitherto undescribed, severe skeletal syndrome is reported in 3 siblings (2 boys, 1 girl) in a family of Turkish-Arabian descent. Major manifestations include; hypoplasia of the pelvis, congenital dislocation of the hip, severe bowing of femora, aplasia or hypoplasia of fibulae, absence or coalescence of tarsal bones, absence of various metatarsals, hypoplasia and aplasia of toes, clinodactyly, hypoplasia of fingers and fingernails, and postaxial polydactyly.Consanguinity is denied, but the fact that both parents belong to the same Christian minority from the same province may indicate common ancestry. Autosomal recessive inheritance is presumed.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.-R. Wiedemann on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in 115 children: clinical presentation, course and influence of gender

The clinical course of 66 boys and 49 girls with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease recruited from departments of paediatric nephrology was investigated over a mean observation period of 4.92 years. This is a selected study group of children from departments of paediatric nephrology who in most cases survived the neonatal period, since birth clinics did not participate. The median age at diagnosis was 29 days (prenatal to 14.5 years). We observed decreased glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) in 72% (median age at onset of decrease of GFR < 2SD, 0.6 years; range. 0-18.7 years), and 11 patients developed end-stage renal disease. Hypertension requiring drug treatment was found in 70% (median age at start of medication, 0.5 years; range, 0-16.7 years). Kidney length was above the 97th centile in 68% of patients, and kidney length did not increase with age or deterioration of renal function. Urinary tract infections occurred in 30%, growth retardation in 25%. and clinical signs of hepatic fibrosis were detected in 46%. Thirteen patients (11 %) died during the observation period. 10 of them in the first year of life. There was a statistically significant sex difference in terms of a more pronounced progression in girls. The survival probability at 1 year was 94% for male patients and 82'% for female patients ( p < 0.05) in this study. Urinary tract infections occurred more frequently in girls ( p < 0.025) and were observed earlier. In addition, more girls had impaired renal function. developed end-stage renal disease and showed growth retardation; these differences, however. were not significant. For the children in this study, however, our results indicate that the long-term prognosis in the majority of cases is better throughout childhood and youth than often stated.     

Cystic fibrosis and Helicobacter pylori gastritis,megaloblastic anaemia,subnormal mentality and minor anomalies in two siblings: a new syndrome?

Two siblings of consanguineous Arab parents were found to have cystic fibrosis and gastritis associated withHelicobacter pylori, folate deficiency megaloblastic anaemia, subnormal mentality and minor anomalies. The association ofH. pylori and megaloblastic anaemia has not been described in patients with cystic fibrosis.H. pylori infection and gastritis is probably more common in patients with cystic fibrosis than appreciated. We believe that the constellation of features in the two sibs represent a possible new autosomal recessive cystic fibrosis-like syndrome.     

Coloboma, congenital heart disease, and choanal atresia with multiple anomalies: CHARGE association

We report 21 patients with choanal atresia or ocular coloboma or both who have certain other associated anomalies, including congenital heart disease, postnatal growth deficiency, mental retardation and/or CNS anomalies, microphallus and cryptorchidism, and ear anomalies and/or deafness. Facial palsy, micrognathia, cleft palate, and swallowing difficulties were also common. It has not been possible to define a single etiology or a syndrome in these patients. We propose the mnemonic CHARGE (C-coloboma, H-heart disease, A-atresia choanae, R-retarded growth and retarded development and/or CNS anomalies, G-genital hypoplasia, and E-ear anomalies and/or deafness) to describe the features of this association.     

Penoscrotal inversion, hypospadias, imperforate anus, facial anomalies, and developmental delay: definition of a new clinical syndrome

 We describe a 2-month-old boy with penoscro- tal inversion, hypospadias, imperforate anus, facial anomalies, developmental retardation, and a subtelomeric deletion of chromosome 13q. His phenotype with anogenital malformations and characteristic facies closely resembled two unrelated patients with minute deletions of chromosome 13q who we reported earlier. In addition, he had unilateral renal agenesis. We propose that these patients represent a clinically recognizable, novel chromosomal microdeletion syndrome. The findings indicate the presence of a major gene(s) on chromosome 13q33.2qter that regulate(s) the migration and development of ano-reno-genital cells and organs. We speculate that mutations of this developmental gene(s) may also result in more frequent congenital malformations (isolated hypospadias, uterus bicornis, unilateral renal agenesis). Additional studies are needed to further delineate the genetic defect. Accepted: 15 September 1999     

Role of rare cases in deciphering the mechanisms of congenital anomalies: CHARGE syndrome research

In this review, our work on CHARGE syndrome will be used to exemplify the role of rare cases in birth defects research. The analysis of 29 cases with mutations of CHD7, the causative gene for CHARGE syndrome, clarified the relative importance of the cardinal features, including facial nerve palsy and facial asymmetry. Concurrently, in situ hybridization using chick embryos studies were performed to delineate the expression pattern of Chd7. The Chd7-positive regions in the chick embryos and the anatomical defects commonly seen in patients with CHARGE syndrome were well correlated: expression in the optic placode corresponded with defects such as coloboma, neural tube with mental retardation, and otic placode with ear abnormalities. The correlation between expression in the branchial arches and nasal placode with the clinical symptoms of CHARGE syndrome, however, became apparent when we encountered two unique CHARGE syndrome patients: one with a DiGeorge syndrome phenotype and the other with a Kallman syndrome phenotype. A unifying hypothesis that could explain both the DiGeorge syndrome phenotype and the Kallman syndrome phenotype in patients with CHARGE syndrome may be that the mutation in CHD7 is likely to exert its effect in the common branch of the two pathways of neural crest cells. As exemplified in CHARGE syndrome research, rare cases play a critical role in deciphering the mechanisms of human development. Close collaboration among animal researchers, epidemiologists and clinicians hopefully will enhance and maximize the scientific value of rare cases.     

常染色体隐性遗传性多囊肾病合并Caroli病一家系报告

常染色体隐性遗传性多囊肾病(autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease,ARPKD)又称婴儿型多囊肾,是肾脏和肝内胆管的遗传性畸形,常见于新生儿期和婴儿期,童年型罕见,可有肝脾肿大、肾功能异常、贫血、高血压、呼吸衰竭等,最终可进展至终末期肾病[1].而Caroli病是一种...     

The Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome: The fourth case of a separate entity with prenatal growth retardation,progressive pancytopenia and cerebellar hypoplasia

We report on a boy with prenatal growth retardation, progressive pancytopenia, cerebellar hypoplasia, microcephaly and developmental delay. Despite extensive laboratory investigations, no specific cause for the abnormalities could be revealed. Strikingly similar features have been described in two brothers by Hoyeraal et al. [5] in 1970 and in one boy by Hreidarsson et al. [6] in 1988. The features seem to be part of a separate entity, for which the eponym Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome may be used. An autosomal or X-linked recessive mode of inheritance seems likely.     

Majewski syndrome (short‐rib polydactyly syndrome type II): Prenatal diagnosis and histological features of chondral growth plate,liver and kidneys

The Majewski syndrome or short rib‐polydactyly syndrome (SRPS) type II is a lethal skeletal dysplasia characterized by severe IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) and dysmorphic face, polydactyly, relatively proportionate head size at birth with later progression to microcephaly. A case of second trimester ultrasound diagnosis of SRPS type II is reported with review of the medical record of previous observed cases. Postmortem examination and radiogram confirmed the clinical diagnosis. Histological examination of the femoral epypheseal chondral plate showed an expanded and irregular hypertrophic zone. Moreover, characteristic cortico‐medullary cysts of both kidneys and portal fibrosis were also demonstrated; findings consistent with the broad phenotypic spectrum of this rare skeletal disease.     

先天性心脏病合并气道异常的诊治进展

先天性心脏病与气道异常存在相关性,某些特殊类型的心血管畸形,如血管环伴气道异常的发病率较高.先天性心脏病合并气道异常临床易被忽略,反复喘鸣、呼吸衰竭、插管困难或术后撤机困难的先天性心脏病患儿,应考虑合并气道异常可能.多排螺旋CT、纤维支气管镜检查对早期诊断、指导治疗起重要作用.治疗方案的选择取决于气道异常的类型,气道病变的部位及程度.     

Studies of malformation syndromes of man XXXIII: The FG syndrome. An X-linked recessive syndrome of multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation

Three brothers and two of their male first cousins were affected with a previously apparently undefined multiple congenital anomaly, mental retardation syndrome which was designated the FG syndrome and which consists of variable growth problems with a disproportionately large head, characteristic appearance and minor anomalies, imperforate anus, mild to severe mental retardation and congenital hypotonia; pyloric stenosis, hypoplastic left heart, generalized dilatation of the urinary tract, cutaneous syndactyly of third and fourth fingers, and severe craniosynostosis were seen each in 1 patient. Partial agenesis of the corpus callosum seen in 1 patient is suspected in another on the basis of EEG abnormalities. 1 boy died neonatally with congenital heart disease, and 2 others of pneumonia at 20 and 23 months. The FG syndrome is an X-linked recessive condition; heterozygotes appear grossly normal.Paper No. 1705 from the University of Wisconsin Genetics Laboratory     

An 8-year-old boy with autoimmune hepatitis and Candida onychosis as the first symptoms of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS1): identification of a new homozygous mutation in the autoimmune regulator gene (aire)

An 8-year-old boy presented in 1995 with a 2-year history of hypertransaminasemia and hypergammaglobulinemia. Afterwards the patient displayed onychosis with a positive culture test for Candida albicans (CA). Because of the persistence of hypertransaminasemia, a percutaneous liver biopsy was performed showing ‘low grade chronic active autoimmune hepatitis’ (AIH), positive for liver-kidney microsomal autoantibodies and antibodies to the hepatic autoantigen cytochrome P450-1A2. Immunosuppressive treatment was initiated. In 2003 he developed Addison’s disease resulting in the diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis-ectodermal dysplasia (APECED) syndrome, also known as autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1). Anti-17OH hydroxylase antibodies tested negative, anti-21-OH hydroxylase autoantibodies were positive. Among the other relevant organ- and non organ- specific autoantibodies, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (ADDC) autoantibodies and anti-tryptophan hydroxylase autoantibodies were positive. The patient also presented polyuria and polydypsia with diabetes insipidus. Because of the presence of two diagnostic criteria of APS1, mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) were performed, which revealed the presence of a novel mutation (c1314- 1326 del 13/insGT) in exon 11. In conclusion, the diagnosis of APECED should be suspected in any child with minimal hypertransaminasemia, anti-microsomal autoantibodies and Candida albicans onychosis.