cleft palate

Kabuki Syndrome 2

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The facial features are characteristic primarily because of the appearance of the periocular features.  The eyebrows are highly arched and sparse.  The lid fissures are long with eversion of the lateral portion of the lower eyelid.  The eyelashes are bushy.  Nystagmus and strabismus have been reported.

Systemic Features: 

Only a small number of individuals with Kabuki syndrome 2 have been reported and the phenotype is incompletely described.  Most of the features in type 2 are similar to those in type 1 with defects in multiple organs.  There are often cardiac malformations including septal defects.  Otitis media and hearing loss are common.  The pinnae are large and cupped.  A highly arched or cleft palate may be present and the teeth are usually small.  The joints are highly mobile and general hypotonia is often present. The fifth finger is often short and clinodactylous.  Persistent fetal fingerpads are common.  The amount of intellectual disability varies considerably with some patients functioning normally.  Urogenital anomalies are less common than found in Kabuki syndrome 1 and anal malformations do not seem to be a feature.

Genetics

Kabuki syndrome 2 is an X-linked disorder, usually as the result of a mutation in the KDM6A gene (Xp11.3).   Patients with the X-linked form of Kabuki represent about 5-10% of cases.   

Kabuki syndrome 1 (147920) is an autosomal dominant condition caused by heterozygous mutations in the KMT2D gene but remaining heterogeneity is suggested by the fact that a substantial proportion (30%) of individuals with Kabuki syndrome features has neither of these mutations.

In a 3 generation family two males had the typical Kabuki phenotype whereas their mother and grandmother (all had the KMT2D mutation) had various attenuated features.

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Management guidelines are available (Management of Kabuki Syndrome).

References
Article Title: 

Molecular analysis, pathogenic mechanisms, and readthrough therapy on a large cohort of Kabuki syndrome patients

Micale L, Augello B, Maffeo C, Selicorni A, Zucchetti F, Fusco C, De Nittis P, Pellico MT, Mandriani B, Fischetto R, Boccone L, Silengo M, Biamino E, Perria C, Sotgiu S, Serra G, Lapi E, Neri M, Ferlini A, Cavaliere ML, Chiurazzi P, Monica MD, Scarano G, Faravelli F, Ferrari P, Mazzanti L, Pilotta A, Patricelli MG, Bedeschi MF, Benedicenti F, Prontera P, Toschi B, Salviati L, Melis D, Di Battista E, Vancini A, Garavelli L, Zelante L, Merla G. Molecular analysis, pathogenic mechanisms, and readthrough therapy on a large cohort of Kabuki syndrome patients. Hum Mutat. 2014 Jul;35(7):841-50.

PubMed ID: 
24633898

Blepharocheilodontic Syndrome 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The eyelids are disproportionately large with an associated lagophthalmos and lower lid ectropion.  The upper eyelids may have a double row of lashes (distichiasis).  Hypertelorism and a broad nasal root have been reported.

Systemic Features: 

A cleft lip and palate are major features and are usually bilateral.  The teeth are conically shaped with microdontia and oligodontia (involving both primary and secondary dentition) often present as well.  Several newborns have had an imperforate anus. Scalp hair may be sparse and hypoplastic nails have been described.  Hypothyroidism and thyroid agenesis has been documented in several patients.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant condition resulting from mutations in the CDH1 gene (16q22.1).

Blepharocheilodontic syndrome 2 is caused by mutations in the CTNND1 gene (16q22.1).

Other conditions with distichiasis include Blatt distichiasis (126300) and lymphedema-distichiasis (153400).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment consists of correction of individual anomalies such as eyelid, oral, and dental malformations.

References
Article Title: 

Blepharo-cheilo-dontic (BCD) syndrome

Gorlin RJ, Zellweger H, Curtis MW, Wiedemann HR, Warburg M, Majewski F, Gillessen-Kaesbach G, Prahl-Andersen B, Zackai E. Blepharo-cheilo-dontic (BCD) syndrome. Am J Med Genet. 1996 Oct 16;65(2):109-12.

PubMed ID: 
8911600

Meckel Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular phenotype is highly variable.  The globe is often malformed or may be clinically absent.  Cryptophthalmos, clinical anophthalmia, and microphthalmos with sclerocornea and microcornea have been reported.  Posterior staphylomas, retinal dysplasia, partial aniridia, cataracts, and hypoplasia or absence of the optic nerve are sometimes seen.  Some patients have incompletely formed eyes with shallow anterior chambers, angle anomalies, and a persistent tunica vasculosa with lens opacification.  Histopathology may reveal thinning of the nerve fiber layer and a paucity of retinal ganglion cells.  The retina has been described as dysplastic with foci of rosette-like structures and abundant glial cells.

Systemic Features: 

Meckel or Meckel-Gruber syndrome is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders with severe multisystem manifestations.  The triad of cystic renal disease, polydactyly (and sometimes syndactyly), and a skull malformation (usually an encephalocele) is considered characteristic of MKS.  However, these signs are variable and only about 60% of patients have all three features.  Many patients have additional signs such as malformations of the biliary tree, cleft palate (and/or lip), sloping forehead, low-set ears, short neck, low-set ears, ambiguous genitalia, and short, bowed limb bones.  Pulmonary hypoplasia is common which, together with kidney and liver disease, is responsible for the poor prognosis of most infants. 

Many clinical abnormalities resemble those present in the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (270400) and in Joubert syndrome (213300).

Genetics

Most conditions in this group are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.  Mutations in 9 genes have been identified as responsible for some variant of MKS in which there is a considerable range of clinical expression.  There is significant clinical overlap with Joubert syndrome and it is not surprising that at least 5 of these mutations have been identified in both conditions.  Further nosological confusion is generated by those who consider patients with the severe, lethal phenotype to have Meckel syndrome while those with milder disease are labeled Joubert syndrome, regardless of genotype.

Rare heterozygotes have been reported with isolated features such as polydactyly.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for this syndrome.  The prognosis for life beyond infancy is poor due to the advanced dysfunction of numerous organs such as the kidney, lungs, liver and the central nervous system.

References
Article Title: 

Clinical and genetic heterogeneity in Meckel syndrome

Paavola P, Salonen R, Baumer A, Schinzel A, Boyd PA, Gould S, Meusburger H, Tenconi R, Barnicoat A, Winter R, Peltonen L. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity in Meckel syndrome. Hum Genet. 1997 Nov;101(1):88-92.

PubMed ID: 
9385376

CHARGE Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Both ocular and systemic abnormalities are highly variable, even within families.  Among the most common ocular features are unilateral or bilateral ocular colobomas (80%).  These involve the iris most frequently but they may extend into the posterior chamber and rarely involve the optic nerve.  A significant number of patients with uveal colobomas have an associated microphthalmia.  The lid fissures often slant downward.  A few patients have congenital cataracts, optic nerve hypoplasia, persistent hyperplastic vitreous, and strabismus.

Systemic Features: 

A wide variety of systemic anomalies have been reported.  Congenital heart defects (primarily septal) and CNS malformations are among the most common features, reported in 85% and 55% respectively.  Tetralogy of Fallot is considered by some to be the most common heart malformation.  Growth and mental retardation are found in nearly 100%.  The pinnae are often set low and hearing loss is common.  Ear anomalies, both internal and external, have been described in 91%, and some degree of conduction and/or sensorineural deafness is present in 62%.  Choanal atresia is found in at least 57% of patients.  This along with cleft palate and sometimes esophageal atresia or reflux often contributes to feeding difficulties which are common in all age groups.  Cranial nerve deficits are seen in 92% of patients and more than one nerve is involved in nearly 3 of 4 patients.  The most common cranial nerve defects involve numbers IX, X, VIII, and V.  Facial palsies are an especially important feature. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and underdevelopment of the external genitalia are often seen, especially in males.  One-third of patients have limb anomalies and many have short digits.  The facies is considered by some as characteristic with a square configuration, broad forehead, flat midface, and a broad nasal bridge.

Infant and childhood morbidity is high with feeding difficulties a major cause of death.

Genetics

Many cases occur sporadically but family patterns consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance are common as well.  Advanced paternal age may be a factor in de novo cases.  Sequence variants of multiple types have been reported in the CHD7 gene (8q12.1-q12.2) in more than 90% of familial patients.  The gene product is a DNA –binding protein that impacts transcription regulation via chromatin remodeling.

Kallmann syndrome (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia) has been considered to be allelic to CHARGE syndrome but may be the same disorder since mutations in CHD7 are responsible and many patients have other features characteristic of the syndrome described here.

Several patients with classical features of the CHARGE syndrome and de novo mutations in the SEMA3E gene (7q21.11) have also been described.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is lesion dependent but focused on airway, feeding, and cardiac defects at least initially.  Regular ophthalmologic and audiologic evaluations are recommended beginning in infancy.  Evidence for hypogonadism should be evaluated if puberty is delayed.  Nutrition must be monitored especially in those with serious feeding problems.  Hearing devices, with speech, occupational, and education therapy may be required.

References
Article Title: 

Waardenburg Syndrome, Type 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Waardenburg syndrome is a disorder of pigmentation, sensorineural deafness, and a characteristic facial (nasal root) morphology.  Some have neural tube defects.  Based on clinical criteria, the syndrome has been divided into types 1, 2, 3, and 4, with subtypes of 2 and 4.  Types 1 and 3 are caused by mutations in the same gene.

Patients often have a white forelock and iris heterochromia.  The latter may be partial in individual irides, or the entire iris in one eye with the fundus hypopigmentation often matching the iris pattern.  The fundus may also have segmental areas of pigmentary changes corresponding to the iris heterochromia. The hypopigmented portion of the iris is often a brilliant blue.  Dystopia canthorum is a prominent and nearly constant (>95%) feature of type 1, and together with the prominent nasal root and increased intercanthal distance may suggest hypertelorism.  Synophrys is often present and the medial portions of the eyebrows can be exceptionally bushy.  Sometimes the poliosis involves the lashes and eyebrows.

Systemic Features: 

Congenital sensorineural deafness is an important feature.  Individuals with type 1 often have a white forelock (29%), premature graying (44%), and hypopigmented skin patches (55%).  A few patients have cleft palate and/or lip. Neural tube defects have also been reported. The considerably more rare type 3 is caused by mutations in the same gene as type 1, but it is claimed by some to be a separate disorder because of the association of limb anomalies. 

Genetics

Autosomal dominant inheritance is typical for the Waardenburg syndrome.  Types 1 and 3 are caused by mutations in the PAX3 gene (2q35) and, of these, type 1 is far more common.  Type 1 is caused by a heterozygous mutation whereas type 3 may result from either a heterozygous, compound heterozygous, or homozygous mutation.  Both types have been reported to occur in the same pedigree.  PAX genes act as transcription factors that attach to specific sections of DNA and regulate protein production.  PAX3 gene products, among other things, specifically influence neural crest cells important to the development of cranialfacial bones and melanocytes.  Paternal age plays a role in new mutations which probably account for many sporadic cases.

Waardenburg syndrome is an excellant example of genetic heterogeneity as types 1 (193500), 2 (193510), 3 (148820  and 4 (277580) can all result from mutations in different genes.  In addition, types 2 and 4 are each caused by mutations in several different genes. 

A child has been reported who was doubly heterozygous for mutations involving both MITF and PAX3. Hypopigmentation in the scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes was more severe than usually seen in patients with single mutations. In addition the face showed marked patchy pigmentation. One parent contributed the MITF mutation and the other added the mutation in PAX3.

 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No ocular treatment is necessary.  Patients may benefit from cochlear implants.

References
Article Title: 

Branchiooculofacial Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Microphthalmos, or anophthalmia, and an imperforate nasolacrimal duct are the primary ocular features in this syndrome.  The nasolacrimal ducts may open onto the skin adjacent to the lacrimal sac.  Uveal tract and optic nerve colobomas are present in nearly half of patients. Strabismus is sometimes seen.  Cataracts are present in about 25% of patients as well.  The lid fissures are often slanted upwards.

Systemic Features: 

A cleft lip and/or palate are common features.  There may be preauricular pits, lip pits, a highly arched palate, and hypodontia.  Some individuals have subcutaneous cysts in the scalp.  Postauricular cervical branchial and supraauricular defects are often present as well.  It is not unusual to see some skin discoloration behind the ears.  The nasal bridge is broad, the top of the nose is flattened, and the philtrum is often short.  The ears are often enlarged or malformed and in 70% of patients there is some hearing loss which is usually conductive in origin but neurosensory deafness has also been documented.  Premature graying of hair is common.  Kidney malformations and dysfunction have been documented.  Mental function is usually normal.  Preaxial polydactyly is an uncommon feature.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant disorder resulting from mutations in the TFAP2A gene (6p34.3).  Both deletions and insertions have been identified.  However, 50-60% of patients have de novo mutations.  As in many autosomal dominant disorders there is considerable clinical heterogeneity and few patients have all of the signs.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach with oculoplastic, ophthalmic, and ENT surgeons.  Physical, speech, hearing, and learning specialists can be helpful.

References
Article Title: 

Further delineation of the branchio-oculo-facial syndrome

Lin AE, Gorlin RJ, Lurie IW, Brunner HG, van der Burgt I, Naumchik IV, Rumyantseva NV, Stengel-Rutkowski S, Rosenbaum K, Meinecke P, et al. Further delineation of the branchio-oculo-facial syndrome. Am J Med Genet. 1995 Mar 13;56(1):42-59. Review.

PubMed ID: 
7747785

Cataracts, Congenital, with Cleft Palate

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Bilateral congenital cataracts are usually present together with upward-slanting and narrowed lid fissures.  The upper eyelids appear abnormally thick and epicanthus is common.  Nothing is known about the location or morphology of the lens opacities.

Systemic Features: 

Anomalies of the palate consisting of clefting, bifid uvula, and sub-mucous clefts are consistently present.  Oral anomalies such as thickening of the lower lid and small mouth are commonly seen.  The nose may be both long and broad.  The face usually appears oval and the forehead is prominent.  A cartilaginous nodule often appears on the helix of low-set and anteriorly rotated ears.  The fingers may be long and thin.

No cardiac or neurologic defects have been reported.

Genetics

Based on the transmission pattern in the single 4 generation family reported, autosomal dominant inheritance is likely.  Array comparative genomic hybridization revealed an interstitial amplification at Xp21.1 but this did not segregate precisely with the clinical pattern and is possibly a copy number polymorphism.  Both sexes are about equally affected. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No data on vision or surgical treatment have been reported but surgery for cleft palate and cataracts may be indicated.

References
Article Title: 

Smith-Magenis Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Ocular abnormalities have been found in the majority of patients.  Microcornea, myopia, strabismus and iris dysplasia are the most common.  Rare patients have iris colobomas or correctopia.  The eyes appear deep-set and lid fissures are upward slanting.

Systemic Features: 

The facial features are considered to be distinctive, characterized by a broad, square face, prominent forehead, broad nasal bridge, and midface hypoplasia.  These and other features appear more pronounced with age as in the size of the jaw which is underdeveloped in infancy and eventually becomes prognathic.  Most patients have developmental delays, speech and motor deficits, cognitive impairments and behavioral abnormalities.  Hypotonia, hyporeflexia, failure to thrive, lethargy, and feeding difficulties are common in infants.  Older individuals have REM sleep disturbances with self-destructive behaviors, aggression, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.  Short stature, hypodontia, brachydactyly, hearing loss, laryngeal anomalies, and peripheral neuropathy are common. Seizures are uncommon.

The behavioral profile of this syndrome can resemble that of autism spectrum disorders although symptoms of compulsivity are more mild.

A related developmental disorder known as Potacki-Lupski syndrome (610883) involving the same locus on chromosome 17 has a similar behavioral profile.  Ocular and systemic malformations may be less severe though.

Genetics

Most patients (90%) with the Smith-Magenis syndrome have interstitial deletions in the short arm of chromosome 17 (17p11.2).  However, it is included here since a few have heterozygous molecular mutations in the RAI1 gene which is located in this region.  While there is considerable phenotypic overlap, individuals with chromosomal deletions have the more severe phenotype as might be expected.  For example, those with RAI1 mutations tend to be obese and are less likely to exhibit short stature, cardiac anomalies, hypotonia, hearing loss and motor delays than seen in patients with a deletion in chromosome 17.  However, the phenotype is highly variable among patients with deletions depending upon the nature and size of the deletion.

The retinoic acid induced 1 gene (RAI1) codes for a transcription factor whose activity is reduced by mutations within it.

Familial cases are rare and reproductive fitness is virtually zero.  If parental chromosomes are normal, the risk for recurrence in sibs is less than 1%.  Males and females are equally affected.

In Potocki-Lupski syndrome (610883) there is duplication of the 17p11.2 microdeletion as the reciprocal recombination product of the SMS deletion.   

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Medical monitoring, psychotropic medications and behavioral therapies are all useful.  Special education and vocational training may be helpful for those less severely affected.

References
Article Title: 

Characterization of Potocki-Lupski syndrome (dup(17)(p11.2p11.2)) and

Potocki L, Bi W, Treadwell-Deering D, Carvalho CM, Eifert A, Friedman EM,
Glaze D, Krull K, Lee JA, Lewis RA, Mendoza-Londono R, Robbins-Furman P, Shaw C,
Shi X, Weissenberger G, Withers M, Yatsenko SA, Zackai EH, Stankiewicz P, Lupski
JR. Characterization of Potocki-Lupski syndrome (dup(17)(p11.2p11.2)) and
delineation of a dosage-sensitive critical interval that can convey an autism
phenotype. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Apr;80(4):633-49.

PubMed ID: 
17357070

Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

A large number of ocular anomalies have been found in SLO syndrome but the most common is blepharoptosis of some degree.  No consistent pattern of ocular abnormalities has been reported.  Atrophy and hypoplasia of the optic nerve, strabismus, nystagmus, and cataracts may be present.   Abnormally low concentrations of cholesterol and cholesterol precursors have been found in all ocular tissues studied.

Systemic Features: 

This is a syndrome of multiple congenital anomalies.  Among these are dwarfism, micrognathia, hard palate anomalies, hypotonia, anomalies of the external genitalia, polysyndactyly, microcephaly, and mental retardation.  It has been suggested that many individuals have a characteristic behavioral profile consisting of cognitive delays, hyperreactivity, irritability, language deficiency, and autism spectrum behaviors.  Some individuals exhibit aspects of self destructive behavior.  Tissue levels of cholesterol are low.

Genetics

SLO syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the sterol delta-7-reductase  (DHCR7) gene mapped to 11q12-q13. The result is a defect in cholesterol synthesis.

The clinical features significantly overlap those seen in Meckel (249000) and Joubert (213300) syndromes.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

A high cholesterol diet has been reported to have a beneficial effect on behavior and general well-being.

References
Article Title: 

Keratoconus Posticus Circumscriptus

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The posterior corneal surface has area(s) of excavation (indentation) associated with overlying opacification.  The lens-corneal separation is reduced and iridocorneal adhesions are often present.  The clinical picture has been described as ‘posterior conical cornea’ or posterior keratoconus.

Systemic Features: 

The neck is short and has webbing.  The facies appear ‘coarse’, the posterior hairline is low, the nose is prominent, digits are short, and the vertebral anomalies may lead to scoliosis.  Individuals are short of stature and brachydactyly is often present.  Developmental delays and mental retardation are usually features.  Other variable anomalies have been reported.

Genetics

Autosomal recessive inheritance seems most likely in view of the family patterns.  Based on the few families reported, it is uncertain if this is a single entity with variable expression or a combination of disorders.  No gene or locus has been associated with this condition.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment beyond surgical repair of the cleft lip and palate or scoliosis is available.  Peripheral iridotomies have been done in the presence of shallow anterior chambers.

References
Article Title: 

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