Neonatal progeroid syndrome (Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome): report of three affected sibs

The Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome (WRS) (OMIM 264090) is a rare progeroid entity. WRS patients are characterized by premature aging present at birth including pseudohydrocephalus, cranio-facial disproportion, reduced subcutaneous fat, thin skin, rigid and thick joints, and neonatal teeth in some cases. Here we describe three sibs with WRS from unaffected parents and without consanguinity. Our findings support autosomal recessive inheritance in WRS and support the possibility of homozygocity mapping as a good approach to find the causative gene.     

Two sibs with Malpuech syndrome.

We report on two Italian brothers with facial clefting, hypertelorism, urogenital anomalies including micropenis, shawl scrotum, hearing loss, caudal appendage, and umbilical hernia. We have evaluated the two cases as Malpuech syndrome. This is an extremely rare autosomal recessive syndrome.     

Two sibs with Malpuech syndrome

We report on two Italian brothers with facial clefting, hypertelorism, urogenital anomalies including micropenis, shawl scrotum, hearing loss, caudal appendage, and umbilical hernia. We have evaluated the two cases as Malpuech syndrome. This is an extremely rare autosomal recessive syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 86:294–299, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The Neu-Laxova syndrome in female sibs: clinical and pathological features with prenatal diagnosis in the second sib

We report on affected sisters with the Neu-Laxova syndrome. Prenatal diagnosis of the condition was achieved by serial ultrasound examinations which demonstrated abnormal fetal growth in the second affected fetus before 24 weeks gestation.     

Two sibs with fibrochondrogenesis

Fibrochondrogenesis is one of the rare lethal osteochondrodysplasias, which show abnormal maturation, and disturbed growth of cartilage and bones. These disorders are a heterogenous group of genetic disorders with a total incidence of 1-3 in 10,000 births. Only 13 cases of fibrochondrogenesis have been published since Lazzaroni-Fossati et al. [1978] first described the disorder. We report on two sibs that occurred in a consanguineous couple and discuss the ultrasonographic, clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of this disorder. This occurrence confirms autosomal recessive inheritance of fibrochondrogenesis.     

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch neonatal progeroid syndrome: report of three new patients.

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch (WR) syndrome is known as a neonatal progeroid syndrome, with only few published case reports. We describe three additional patients, two of them sibs, showing the clinical features of WR syndrome. Skeletal abnormalities are reported and assays of hormones and lipids are presented in one patient. Disturbance in bone maturation and lipid and hormone metabolism appear to be involved in this neonatal progeroid syndrome.     

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome: report of a variant case

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome (WRS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that includes premature aging phenotype at birth. The condition is also known as a neonatal progeroid syndrome. Up to now only a few published case reports have been documented. The syndrome is characterized by progeroid appearance, decreased subcutaneous fat, hypotrichosis, macrocephaly, and in some natal teeth. We describe a new patient with features of bilaterally pelvicalyceal ectasia and partial syndactyly on 2th and 3th toes, not previously described, to our knowledge.     

The Neu–Laxova syndrome in female sibs: Clinical and pathological features with prenatal diagnosis in the second sib

We report on affected sisters with the Neu–Laxova syndrome. Prenatal diagnosis of the condition was achieved by serial ultrasound examinations which demonstrated abnormal fetal growth in the second affected fetus before 24 weeks gestation.     

Prenatal diagnosis of Walker-Warburg syndrome in three sibs

Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by diffuse neurodysplasia, resulting in brain and eye abnormalities. We report on 3 prenatally diagnosed cases of this syndrome born to a consanguineous couple. An ultrasonographic examination showed hydrocephalus at the 27th week of the first pregnancy. Amniocentesis documented a normal male karyotype. The couple opted for termination of the pregnancy but declined an autopsy. Seven months later, hydrocephalus was observed at 20 weeks of the second pregnancy. Termination of pregnancy was performed at the 22nd week. Autopsy of this male fetus showed dilated ventricles, thin cortex, and type II lissencephaly with microscopic evidence of chaotic architecture. Eye examination showed retinal dysplasia. Notwithstanding the lack of demonstrable muscle change, the diagnosis of Walker-Warburg syndrome was made. Ten months later, hydrocephalus was discovered in the third fetus, a female, at 13 weeks of gestation. Termination of pregnancy was performed at 20 weeks. At autopsy, brain, eye, and muscular findings were similar to those of the previous case. In addition, cystic changes and a stenosis of the pyelo-ureteral junction were found in the right kidney. Type II lissencephaly and retinal dysplasia are characteristic of WWS. Muscular dystrophy has been pointed out as an additional abnormality in postnatal cases. By contrast, the lack of demonstrable muscle changes in the fetal period must be emphasized. Those cases illustrate practical problems in the ultrasound and pathologic diagnosis of WWS in the fetal period. Am. J. Med. Genet. 76:107–110, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

ICF syndrome with variable expression in sibs.

We describe a new familial case of ICF syndrome (immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, facial anomalies) in a woman of 29 years and in her brother of 30 years. The proband showed mental retardation, facial anomalies, recurrent respiratory infections, combined deficit of IgM and IgE immunoglobulin classes, and paracentromeric heterochromatin instability of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16. The brother had minor signs of the syndrome and had an apparently normal phenotype. Their parents were healthy and non-consanguineous. Chromosome anomalies consisted of homologous and non-homologous associations, chromatid and isochromatid breaks, deletions of whole arms, interchanges in the paracentromeric region, and multibranched configurations of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16. CD bands and fluorescence in situ hybridisation with alphoid DNA sequence probes specific for the centromeres of chromosomes 1 and 16 showed that the centromere was not directly implicated in the formation of multibranched configurations. These cases indicate the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance and the variable expressivity of the ICF syndrome.     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

Autoradiographic demonstration of 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation in small numbers of amniotic fluid cells cultured on coverslips is a rapid and practical technique in the prenatal diagnosis of the Lesch-Nyhan mutation. An affected male fetus, a normal male fetus, and a heterozygous female fetus were identified within 14 days after amniocentesis in three pregancies at risk for the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.     

Two sibs with anophthalmia and pulmonary hypoplasia (the Matthew-Wood syndrome)

We describe two sibs with pulmonary hypoplasia and anophthalmia; one also had a number of other malformations. Only one other broadly similar case could be found in the literature, and it was an isolated occurrence. The condition is named the Matthew-Wood syndrome. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

PTPN11 analysis for the prenatal diagnosis of Noonan syndrome in fetuses with abnormal ultrasound findings

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by short stature, congenital heart defects and distinctive facies. The disorder is genetically heterogeneous with approximately 50% of patients having PTPN11 mutations. Prenatally, the diagnosis of NS has been suspected following certain ultrasound findings, such as cystic hygroma, increased nuchal translucency (NT) and hydrops fetalis. Studies of fetuses with cystic hygroma have suggested an NS prevalence of 1–3%. A retrospective review was performed to assess the utility of PTPN11 testing based on prenatal sonographic findings ( n = 134). The most commonly reported indications for testing were increased NT and cystic hygroma. Analysis showed heterozygous missense mutations in 12 fetuses, corresponding to a positive test rate of 9%. PTPN11 mutations were identified in 16% and 2% of fetuses with cystic hygroma and increased NT, respectively. Among fetuses with isolated cystic hygroma, PTPN11 mutation prevalence was 11%. The mutations observed in the three fetuses with hydrops fetalis had previously been reported as somatic cancer mutations. Prenatal PTPN11 testing has diagnostic and possible prognostic properties that can aid in risk assessment and genetic counseling. As NS is genetically heterogeneous, negative PTPN11 testing cannot exclude the diagnosis and further study is warranted regarding the other NS genes.     

Two sibs with chorioretinal dystrophy,hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism,and cerebellar ataxia: Boucher-Neuh?user syndrome.

We describe two sibs with chorioretinal dystrophy, hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, and cerebellar ataxia, Boucher-Neuhäuser syndrome, a rare but distinct pleiotropic single gene disorder with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. The cases presented illustrate that this syndrome is still poorly recognised. We provide a review and analysis of previously reported cases and the differential diagnosis, which might aid in the identification of additional cases.     

Apple peel syndrome in sibs.

We report an Arab sibship of two brothers with apple peel jejunal atresia. The parents are consanguineous. Other reported familial cases are briefly reviewed.     

Brachmann-de Lange syndrome in sibs.

We report an Arab family of phenotypically normal first cousin parents with two offspring showing variable manifestations of Brachmann-de Lange syndrome. The proband, who had many diagnostic symptoms of the syndrome with apparently normal chromosomes, died at the age of three months. His sister was less severely affected and lived for six years. The genetic basis of Brachmann-de Lange syndrome is discussed and homozygosity for an autosomal recessive allelle is suggested as an underlying cause in some cases.     

Severe cardiac anomalies in sibs with Larsen syndrome.

Larsen syndrome is characterised by congenital anterior dislocation of the knees, associated with other joint dislocations, and a characteristic facies. Autosomal recessive and dominant inheritance have been proposed. A brother and a sister with consanguineous parents, suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance, were found to have the typical features of Larsen syndrome. In addition, they had severe cardiac manifestations, never reported before in familial cases of the syndrome. We suggest that the recessive form is probably more severe than the dominant form because of the frequent presence of concomitant cardiac anomalies.