Short rib-polydactyly syndrome type II (Majewski): prenatal diagnosis, perinatal imaging findings and molecular analysis of the NEK1 gene

ObjectiveTo demonstrate perinatal imaging findings and to investigate the mutation in the NEK1 gene in a fetus with type II short rib-polydactyly syndrome (SRPS) (Majewski).Case ReportA 34-year-old woman with a past history of fetal SRPS was referred to the hospital at 16 weeks of gestation because of sonographic diagnosis of short limbs in the fetus. Fetal ultrasound revealed short ribs, short limbs, absence of tibiae, polydactyly, syndactyly and choroid plexus cysts. At 21 weeks of gestation, polycystic kidneys were found. The pregnancy was terminated, and a fetus was delivered with facial dysmorphism, a median cleft lip, a narrow chest, micromelia, aplasia of tibiae, hypoplastic nails, syndactyly and postaxial polydactyly. The karyotype was 46,XX. Molecular analysis of fetal tissues showed a paternal-origin heterozygous splice site mutation in intron 7 (c.465-1 G>A) in the NEK1 gene, but no mutations in the genes of WDR35, DYNC2H1, IFT80, EVC and EVC2. The NEK1 mutation causes an alteration of the splice acceptor site of intron 7 (IVS7-1 G>A). No second mutation was identified.ConclusionTibial aplasia, choroid plexus cysts and polycystic kidneys can be prominent prenatal ultrasound findings of type II SRPS. The present case provides evidence for a correlation of NEK1 mutation with type II SRPS.     

Early prenatal diagnosis of short rib-polydactyly (SRP) syndrome type I (Majewski) by ultrasound in a case at risk

Short rib-polydactyly (SRP) syndrome Type I was diagnosed accurately in an at-risk fetus at 16 weeks of gestation by real-time sonography. The most important findings were a narrow thorax, significant shortening of the long bones, particularly the tibiae, and--by directed search--the polydactyly.     

Prenatal diagnosis for a novel homozygous mutation in PKLR gene in an Indian family

OBJECTIVE: To provide prenatal diagnosis of pyruvate kinase deficiency by direct DNA analysis in an Indian family. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This case report describes diagnosis of a novel homozygous mutation in PKLR gene that subsequently helped the family in the next pregnancy. RESULTS: Advancement in molecular genetics has resulted in the prenatal diagnosis of relatively uncommon genetic disorders like pyruvate kinase deficiency. CONCLUSION: This case reiterates the importance of application of molecular genetics in clinical practice and prenatal diagnosis especially for rare, incurable genetic disorders.     

Noonan syndrome: Prenatal diagnosis in a woman carrying a PTPN11 gene mutation

Objective.?To describe the case of a pregnant woman and her fetus with Noonan syndrome (NS) whom were diagnosed through ultrasonography 3D and molecular analysis of the PTPN11 gene.

Study design.?Case report.

Results.?We detected in a pregnant woman and her child the G<A transition at position 236 in exon 3 of the PTPN11 gene causative of NS. Antenatal diagnosis was possible through ultrasonography in the 24th week of gestation.

Conclusions.?Ultrasonography 3D is useful in the antenatal diagnosis of major congenital anomalies. Molecular studies should also be included to confirm the specific diagnosis.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with a cryptic translocation 4p;18p and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS)

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) is caused by distal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 and is characterized by growth deficiency, mental retardation, a distinctive, 'greek-helmet' facial appearance, microcephaly, ear lobe anomalies, and sacral dimples. We report a family with a balanced chromosomal translocation 4;18(p15.32;p11.21) in the father and an unbalanced translocation resulting in partial monosomy 4 and partial trisomy 18 in one living boy and a prenatally diagnosed male fetus. Both showed abnormalities consistent with WHS and had in addition aplasia of one umbilical artery. Karyotyping of another stillborn fetus revealed a supernumerary derivative chromosome der(18)t(4;18)(p15.32;p11.21) of paternal origin and two normal chromosomes 4. The umbilical cord had three normal vessels. A third stillborn fetus with the same balanced translocation as the father had a single umbilical artery and hygroma colli.     

单纯性染色体18p部分三体综合征患儿的产前遗传学诊断和文献回顾

目的探讨单纯性染色体18P部分三体综合征患者的产前诊断特点。方法联合运用传统染色体核型分析和染色体微阵列(chromosome microarray analysis,CMA)基因芯片技术对家系成员行染色体核型分析和基因组拷贝数变异检测。结果胎儿羊水染色体核型结果为46,XY,der(18),父母双方染色体核型均未见异常;胎儿基因芯片检测结果为arr[hg19]18p11.31p11.21(3,521,718-15,099,116)×3,即胎儿基因组18号染色体短臂p11.31p11.21区域存在11.58 Mb的片段重复,父母双方基因芯片结果均为阴性,提示该胎儿的18号染色体结构重排为新发生的。结论在一个有不良生育史家系的胎儿中检出一个罕见新发的单纯性染色体18p部分三体变异,这是世界少见的单纯性染色体18p部分三体综合征的产前病例报道。联合运用传统染色体核型分析和C M A基因芯片技术在预防不良产史家系中胎儿出生缺陷的产前诊断中具有重要的临床应用价值。     

Prenatal diagnosis of a 22q11 deletion in a second-trimester fetus with conotruncal anomaly, absent thymus and meningomyelocele: Kousseff syndrome

A 30-year-old nulliparous woman was seen for a detailed ultrasound scan at 20 weeks of gestation. The scan revealed a male fetus with truncus arteriosus, membranous ventricular septal defect, absent thymus and sacral meningomyelocele. A 46,XY karyotype with a 22q11 deletion was detected. The parents chose to terminate the pregnancy. The pathological autopsy showed normal facial structures, minimal ventricular dilatation in the brain and a sacral meningomyelocele. Overlapping toes and a left claw-hand were also noted. An aplastic thymus with absent parathyroid glands was detected. The cardiac examination was consistent with the ultrasound diagnosis. The parental karyotypes were both normal. Kousseff syndrome is caused by a chromosome 22q11 deletion. It includes sacral meningomyelocele and conotruncal heart defects, unlike DiGeorge syndrome. Obstetricians should consider this a not so rare entity when they detect conotruncal abnormalities and a meningomyelocele as part of a 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with terminal deletion of chromosome 1 (q41)

Many authors have suggested that individuals affected by a terminal 1q deletion display a phenotypically definable and recognizable syndrome. In all of the 27 cases reported to date, the breakpoints were at band q42 or distally to it. To our knowledge, we report the first case of a terminal 1q41 deletion. Diagnosis was made prenatally by amniocentesis, following ultrasonographic diagnosis of omphalocele, cerebral ventriculomegaly, and increased nuchal fold thickness in a 19-week female fetus. Multiple facial and extremity features were consistent with the proposed distal 1q deletion syndrome; omphalocele, however, has not been reported previously. The absence of liver herniation into the omphalocele sac in this case supports the previously reported association of this finding with chromosomal anomalies.     

Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in a case of spina bifida in a family with Waardenburg syndrome type I

OBJECTIVE: Waardenburg syndrome type I (WS I) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder with an incidence of 1:45,000 in Europe. Mutations within the PAX3 gene are responsible for the clinical phenotype ranging from mild facial features to severe malformations detectable in prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: Here, we report a four-generation family with several affected members showing various symptoms of WS I. We diagnosed the syndrome first in a pregnant young woman; she was referred because of a spina bifida in prenatal diagnosis. We performed clinical genetic investigations and molecular genetic analysis in all available family members. RESULTS: The phenotype displays a wide intra-familial clinical variability of pigmentary disturbances, facial anomalies and developmental defects. Molecular studies identified a novel splice site mutation within the PAX3 gene in intron 5 in all affected family members, but in none of the unaffected relatives. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates the prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida in a fetus which leads to the initial diagnosis of WS I. Further studies could identify a private splice site mutation within the PAX3 gene responsible for the phenotype in this family.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus harboring an intermediate load of the A3243G mtDNA mutation in a maternal carrier diagnosed with MELAS syndrome

We prenatally diagnosed MELAS syndrome in a fetus whose mother and older brother had the MELAS-specific A3243G mutation. The mutant mtDNA level of the amniotic fluid cells was not significantly different from that of the postnatal peripheral blood and hair follicle samples. The obstetrical course was uncomplicated except for transient exacerbation of the mother's diabetes, which required insulin control. At term, the infant was macrosomic, and the delivery was complicated by shoulder dystocia. MELAS syndrome in itself does not influence either the prenatal course of the mother or the fetal outcome. In contrast to the fulminating clinical course of this mother's first child, MELAS symptoms did not develop in her second child until age four, despite similar high tissue levels of mutant mtDNA. The phenotypic diversity in two offspring with similar higher levels of mutant mtDNA suggests that prenatal genetic diagnosis of cultured amniotic cells may yield results that are poor prognosticators of fetal outcome.     

Osteogenesis imperfecta type I: second-trimester diagnosis and incidental identification of a dominant COL1A1 deletion mutation in the paucisymptomatic father

ObjectiveTo present second-trimester ultrasound and molecular diagnosis for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I in a female fetus and incidental identification of a dominant COL1A1 deletion mutation in her paucisymptomatic father.Case ReportA 30-year-old, primigravid woman was referred for genetic counseling in the second trimester because of bowing of the fetal lower limbs. She and her husband were non-consanguineous, and there was no family history of skeletal dysplasias. Prenatal ultrasound at 22 weeks of gestation revealed short and curved right femur and left tibia, and a short left fibula. The lengths of other long bones were normal. The husband was 158 cm tall, had blue sclerae, a history of habitual subluxation and dislocation of bilateral elbows and left knee, and an episode of left ulna fracture, and was not aware of his being affected with OI type I. The woman underwent amniocentesis. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a karyotype of 46,XX. Molecular analysis of the amniocytes revealed a heterozygous deletion mutation of c.1064_1068delCTGGT in exon 17 of the COL1A1 gene. By genetic testing the husband was found to carry the same mutation. Despite counseling of favorable outcome for OI type I with the parents, the woman elected to terminate the pregnancy. Postnatal skeletal X-ray findings were consistent with OI type I.ConclusionPrenatal ultrasound diagnosis of mild forms of OI should include molecular analysis of type I collagen genes in both fetus and parents. Molecular genetic analysis of the family may incidentally identify a collagen gene mutation in the paucisymptomatic affected parent.