Severe end of Opitz trigonocephaly (C) syndrome or new syndrome?

We report on four unrelated cases of an Opitz trigonocephaly (C)-like syndrome with a highly characteristic combination of facial anomalies including prominent metopic suture, exophthalmos, hypertelorism, cleft lip and palate, flexion deformities of the upper limbs and multiple other anomalies. We also review two very similar published cases formerly considered to have the C syndrome. Although there is overlap, a clinical distinction from the Opitz trigonocephaly and other syndromes seems possible, and thus a specific causal entity may be postulated.     

Severe limb abnormalities: Nievergelt or new syndrome?

Since the characteristic mesomelic limb abnormalities of the autosomal-dominant Nievergelt syndrome (NS) may be casually nonspecific, we are unsure whether our patient with these abnormalities but also with severe, symmetrical hand and foot anomalies has an unusual form of Nievergelt syndrome or a previously apparently undescribed syndrome. This infant's condition could represent an autosomal-dominant new mutation, or an autosomal or X-linked recessive disorder. Am. J. Med. Genet. 70:48–51, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Another Arab patient with overlap of Váradi-Papp/Opitz trigonocephaly syndromes?

We describe a Bedouin boy with multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation (MCA/MR). He has frontal bossing, ridged metopic suture, bilateral ptosis, right squint, depressed nasal bridge, small nose, anteverted nostrils, lobulated tongue, polydactyly of both hands, microphallus, hypoplastic scrotum, microtestes, dysgenesis of corpus callosum, and a Dandy-Walker variant. This phenotype overlaps both the Varadi-Papp syndrome (OFD VI) and Opitz trigonocephaly (C syndrome). This phenotypic overlap is discussed in light of the concept of splitting and lumping in genetic diseases. Am. J. Med. Genet. 68:54–57, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Autoimmune or auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA): Old truths and a new syndrome?

There has been considerable interest in the role of environmental factors and the induction of autoimmunity and the ways by which they facilitate loss of tolerance. Clearly both genetic and environmental factors are incriminated, as evidenced by the lack of concordance in identical twins and the relatively recent identification of the shared epitope in rheumatoid arthritis. In this issue a new syndrome called 'Asia'-autoimmune/auto-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants has been proposed. It is an intriguing issue and one that is likely to be provocative and lead to further biologic and molecular investigations.     

Variant of Coffin-Siris syndrome or previously undescribed syndrome?

We describe a 23-year-old woman with growth and mental retardation, hypoplasia of the nails and distal phalanges, particularly of the fifth fingers and toes, hirsutism, and a “coarse” face with large mouth and large tongue, and bushy eyebrows. Follow-up from birth to adulthood showed that developmental delay and hypoplasia of nails and distal phalanges are permanent signs. Sparse scalp hair, hypotonia, and feeding difficulties were present in early infancy. Later, growth retardation, hirsutism, and a “coarse” face with midface hypoplasia, broad nose, and large mouth became more impressive. Differential diagnosis includes a number of conditions, particularly Coffin-Siris syndrome, which is the most likely but not completely convincing diagnosis. Therefore, this woman might represent a variant of Coffin-Siris syndrome or a new entity. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Severe micrognathia, cleft palate, absent olfactory tract, and abnormal rib development: cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome or a new syndrome?

We report on a family in which two sibs had apparently absent ribs and severe micrognathia on prenatal ultrasonography. The pregnancies were terminated at 19 and 12 weeks of gestation, respectively. Autopsy findings in the first fetus (19 weeks of gestation) included severe micrognathia, a U-shaped defect of the soft palate, marked postnuchal edema, absent olfactory bulbs, and cribriform plate and rib abnormalities. The ribs consisted of cartilage anteriorly, with only a small amount of fibrous tissue present laterally and posteriorly. The second fetus (12 weeks gestation) had agnathia, with a large U-shaped defect in the soft palate. There was moderate postnuchal edema. The ribs were unossified and there were gaps in the cartilage where primitive mesenchyme was present posteriorly and laterally. These findings are consistent with a severe form of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome. The early fetal histopathology of both cases suggests a possible mechanism by which the characteristic "rib gaps" of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome may develop, with evidence for abnormal function of a gene or genes involved in regulation of rib chondrogenesis.     

Severe micrognathia,cleft palate,absent olfactory tract,and abnormal rib development: Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome or a new syndrome?

We report on a family in which two sibs had apparently absent ribs and severe micrognathia on prenatal ultrasonography. The pregnancies were terminated at 19 and 12 weeks of gestation, respectively. Autopsy findings in the first fetus (19 weeks of gestation) included severe micrognathia, a U-shaped defect of the soft palate, marked postnuchal edema, absent olfactory bulbs, and cribriform plate and rib abnormalities. The ribs consisted of cartilage anteriorly, with only a small amount of fibrous tissue present laterally and posteriorly. The second fetus (12 weeks gestation) had agnathia, with a large U-shaped defect in the soft palate. There was moderate postnuchal edema. The ribs were unossified and there were gaps in the cartilage where primitive mesenchyme was present posteriorly and laterally. These findings are consistent with a severe form of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome. The early fetal histopathology of both cases suggests a possible mechanism by which the characteristic “rib gaps” of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome may develop, with evidence for abnormal function of a gene or genes involved in regulation of rib chondrogenesis. Am. J. Med. Genet. 84:120–124, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Is it a new syndrome or a clinical variability in cerebro-oculo-nasal syndrome?

We present a male infant 2.5-months old with asymmetric skull, anophthalmia, apparent hypertelorism, abnormal nares, unilateral cleft lip and palate, and structural abnormalities of the central nervous system. These findings are similar to cerebro-oculo-nasal syndrome except for the appearance of nose. This case is either a clinical variability in cerebro-oculo-nasal syndrome or a new entity.     

Pulmonary agenesis, microphthalmia, and diaphragmatic defect (PMD): new syndrome or association?

We present the prenatal diagnosis of a 22-week-gestation fetus with unilateral pulmonary agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia, microphthalmia, pulmonary vessel agenesis, and intrauterine growth retardation. The "association" of pulmonary agenesis, diaphragmatic defect, and microphthalmia was described previously in two patients but the resemblance was not noted by the authors. While each case differs slightly in some of the associated anomalies, it is evident that the mainstay of diagnosis is similar to the case presented here and that this represents a new syndrome or association.     

Primary lymphedema with coarctation of the aorta: Possible new syndrome or variant of Irons–Bianchi syndrome?

We present a boy with congenital lymphedema, a congenital heart defect (coarctation of the aorta), and mild dysmorphic features. Clinical impression and targeted investigations ruled out Noonan syndrome and Milroy syndrome, but it was not clear whether or not he had Irons-Bianchi syndrome. We discuss the genomic and lymphoscintigraphy evaluation of this case, and review whether the small number of current case reports represent the original Irons-Bianchi syndrome or variants. We anticipate that ongoing molecular investigations such as Next Generation Sequencing will delineate a currently clinically defined phenotypic spectrum.     

Cryptophthalmos, dental and oral abnormalities, and brachymesophalangy of second toes: new syndrome or Fraser syndrome?

We report on an 8-year-old Thai girl with bilateral complete cryptophthalmos, facial asymmetry, delayed bone age, brachymesophalangy and medial deviation of the second toes, and dental anomalies. The dental anomalies consist of delayed dental development, congenital absence of the second premolars, microdontia of the deciduous molars. A fibrous band of the buccal mucosa was found. Dental anomalies are rare among patients with Fraser syndrome. They have not been reported in either isolated or other syndromic cryptophthalmos. The oral manifestations and brachymesophalangy of the second toes found in our patient may represent newly recognized findings associated with cryptophthalmos or they may represent a newly recognized syndrome.     

Autosomal dominant macrocephaly: benign familial macrocephaly or a new syndrome?

During the course of a clinical study of Sotos syndrome, six out of 79 probands failed to fit the phenotype of Sotos syndrome but showed remarkable similarities to each other and to a further 11 first- and second-degree relatives. Clinical features in these index cases included macrocephaly, greater than +3.5 SD; normal or near normal birth weight and length with subsequent relative obesity; variable developmental delay; and typical face, characterised by a square outline with frontal bossing, a "dished-out" mid-face, biparietal narrowing, and long philtrum. All recorded bone ages were less than the 75th centile, and two were below the 10th centile. The authors believe the original diagnosis was incorrect and that these cases likely represent a previously undescribed autosomal dominant macrocephaly syndrome.     

Colobomatous microphthalmia,microcephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia: Association or new syndrome?

We report on a 3.5‐year‐old girl with microcephaly, microphthalmia, coloboma of the iris, mild developmental delay, and other minor anomalies. Neuroimaging showed marked cerebellar and vermian hypoplasia. This condition has not been described previously and is discussed in the context of the “micro syndrome,” together with other similar syndromes. Our case highlights the heterogeneity of the “microphthalmia plus brain malformations” group of patients. Am. J. Med. Genet. 92:278–280, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Colobomatous microphthalmia, microcephaly with cerebellar hypoplasia: association or new syndrome?

We report on a 3.5-year-old girl with microcephaly, microphthalmia, coloboma of the iris, mild developmental delay, and other minor anomalies. Neuroimaging showed marked cerebellar and vermian hypoplasia. This condition has not been described previously and is discussed in the context of the "micro syndrome," together with other similar syndromes. Our case highlights the heterogeneity of the "microphthalmia plus brain malformations" group of patients.     

Autosomal dominant microtia and ocular coloboma: new syndrome or an extension of the oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum?

The oculo-auriculo-vertebral (OAV) spectrum is an etiologically heterogeneous condition classically consisting of microtia, hemifacial microsomia, epibulbar dermoids, and vertebral anomalies. Other eye findings described in OAV include upper eyelid colobomas, ptosis, and varying degrees of microphthalmia or even anophthalmia. Iris and/or retinal colobomas have rarely been reported. We describe two familial cases of apparent OAV with ocular colobomas. We postulate that iris and/or retinal colobomas associated with OAV may represent a subgroup within the OAV spectrum with autosomal dominant inheritance, as in the families described herein. Since microtia can result from aberrant migration of neural crest cells into the first and second branchial arches during early embryonic development, and concomitant deficient neural crest migration into the developing eye can lead to ocular coloboma and or iris heterochromia, it may be that the altered gene or genes in our familial cases are involved with regulation of neural crest development.     

Severe congenital neutropenia or hyper-IgM syndrome? A novel mutation of CD40 ligand in a patient with severe neutropenia

Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) and CD40 ligand deficiency (CD40LD) are two primary immunodeficiency diseases caused by different underlying genetic defects. In this report, we present a case who clinically presented as a SCN patient, but subsequent mutation analysis of this patient was compatible with CD40LD. The patient is a 3-year-old boy, who was referred to our center because of pneumonia, oral and anal ulcers, and periodontitis. As severe consistent neutropenia and maturation arrest in the myeloid series were observed in the bone marrow, a diagnosis of SCN was made. However, no mutations were found in the ELA2 and HAX1 genes. As functional T cell defects were observed, we suspected CD40LD. DNA sequencing showed a 17-base pair deletion in the CD40L gene. Although the patient did not have a decreased serum level of IgA, and his serum IgM level was within the normal range, the diagnosis of CD40LD was confirmed, suggesting that CD40LD should be suspected in any male patient with recurrent infections and neutropenia.