large ears

Neurodevelopmental Disorder With or Without Seizures and Gait Abnormalities

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Nystagmus and strabismus are common ocular features.  Optic nerve hypoplasia is present in some individuals.

Systemic Features: 

Symptoms may begin in early infancy or childhood.  Several neonates with irritability, hypertonia, increased startle reflexes, and stiffness have been reported.  Hypotonia may occur in the neonatal period though.  Intellectual disability and severe developmental delay are common and some patients are unable to follow simple commands.  Seizures of variable severity frequently occur at some point.  Speech may be absent.  Some patients are unable to walk while those that do have a clumsy, spastic gait.  Joint contractures may develop.

The most obvious dysmorphic feature are large ears.  Choreiform and stereotypic hand movements are sometimes present.  Feeding difficulties and sleeping problems may be noted.  Cortical atrophy and thinning of the corpus callosum has been seen on brain imaging.  One mildly affected individual was short in stature.

Genetics

Heterozygous mutations in the GRIA4 gene (11q22.3) have been found in 5 unrelated patients.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia 7

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular phenotype has not been fully evaluated.  Optic atrophy, nystagmus, and strabismus have been reported in addition to dysmorphic periocular features such as epicanthal folds, upslanting lid fissures, and a flattened nasal bridge.  Infants frequently do not fix and follow.

Systemic Features: 

Infants may be small at birth and subsequent psychomotor development is delayed.  The ears are large and the palate is highly arched.  Hypotonia is present from birth but spasticity with hyperreflexia may also be seen.  Brain imaging may show a thin corpus callosum as well as olivopontocerebellar hypoplasia.  The ventricles are frequently enlarged.  Patients are frequently irritable with few spontaneous movements.

Genitalia can be ambiguous and are frequently assigned to the female gender because of microphallus, fused scrotum, absent testes, and absence of the uterus.  Many such infants are found to have XY karyotypes.  Infants considered male at birth may subsequently show regression of penile corporeal tissue and may have genitalia that more closely resemble the female gender.  Pelvic imaging and laparoscopy, however, may reveal a uterus, Fallopian tubes and a blind-ending vagina with no gonadal tissue even in individuals with XY karyotypes. 

Genetics

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the TOE1 gene (1p34.1) are responsible for this condition.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Biallelic mutations in the 3' exonuclease TOE1 cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia and uncover a role in snRNA processing

Lardelli RM, Schaffer AE, Eggens VR, Zaki MS, Grainger S, Sathe S, Van Nostrand EL, Schlachetzki Z, Rosti B, Akizu N, Scott E, Silhavy JL, Heckman LD, Rosti RO, Dikoglu E, Gregor A, Guemez-Gamboa A, Musaev D, Mande R, Widjaja A, Shaw TL, Markmiller S, Marin-Valencia I, Davies JH, de Meirleir L, Kayserili H, Altunoglu U, Freckmann ML, Warwick L, Chitayat D, Blaser S, Caglayan AO, Bilguvar K, Per H, Fagerberg C, Christesen HT, Kibaek M, Aldinger KA, Manchester D, Matsumoto N, Muramatsu K, Saitsu H, Shiina M, Ogata K, Foulds N, Dobyns WB, Chi NC, Traver D, Spaccini L, Bova SM, Gabriel SB, Gunel M, Valente EM, Nassogne MC, Bennett EJ, Yeo GW, Baas F, Lykke-Andersen J, Gleeson JG. Biallelic mutations in the 3' exonuclease TOE1 cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia and uncover a role in snRNA processing. Nat Genet. 2017 Mar;49(3):457-464.

PubMed ID: 
28092684

Kabuki Syndrome 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The facial features and specifically the periocular anomalies are diagnostic and responsible for the eponymic designation (resembling the make-up of actors of a Japanese theatrical form known as Kabuki). The lid fissures are long and narrow and the lateral third of the lower lids are often everted.  The eyebrows are highly-arched and broad with some sparsity especially in the lateral portion.  The eyelashes are thick and ptosis is often noted. Strabismus may be present.  Blue sclerae have been reported.

Some patients may have extreme microphthalmia.

Systemic Features: 

Post-natal growth delay and short stature are present as a result of anomalies in the vertebrae often with secondary scoliosis.  Persistence of the fetal fingertip pads is common. Hypotonia and joint hypermobility have been noted and some degree of intellectual disability is common.  Seizures have been reported but these are not common. Cleft lip and palate are seen in about a third of patients and the palate is highly arched in about 75%.  The teeth are small, frequently malformed and widely spaced.  Feeding difficulties are common.  Anal anomalies such as imperforate anus, anovestibular fistulas, and an anteriorly placed opening may be present, especially in females.  A small penis, hypospadias, and cryptorchidism are common in males.

An ill-defined immune deficit seems to be a common feature as evident by susceptibility to infections, primarily otitis media in infants and later recurrent sinopulmonary infections.   The majority of patients have hypogammaglobulinemia with a variable pattern of antibody abnormalities resembling common variable immune deficiency and especially low levels of serum IgA.  

Hearing loss is seen in nearly half of patients, some of which is no doubt due to recurrent otitis media but CT radiography has demonstrated dysplastic morphology of inner ear structures and the petrous bone.  The ears are large and cupped and preauricular pits may be present as well.

Biliary atresia and a variety of morphological anomalies of the kidney have been reported.  Renal failure can occur.  Perhaps as many as 58% of patients have congenital heart defects, mostly septal in location. 

Genetics

Heterozygous mutations in KMT2D (12q13.12) (also called MLL2) are responsible for Kabuki syndrome 1 but parental transmission to offspring is rare and the majority of patients occur sporadically.  There is also an X-linked form (Kabuki 2) caused by mutations in KDM5A (Xp11.3).  Insufficient clinical data regarding the X-linked phenotype so far has precluded the ability to distinguish the two disorders without genotyping.

Residual genetic heterogeneity remains, however, as a substantial proportion of patients do not have mutations in the two mutant genes known.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no general treatment for this condition.  Management guidelines are available (Management of Kabuki Syndrome).

References
Article Title: 

MLL2 and KDM6A mutations in patients with Kabuki syndrome

Miyake N, Koshimizu E, Okamoto N, Mizuno S, Ogata T, Nagai T, Kosho T, Ohashi H, Kato M, Sasaki G, Mabe H, Watanabe Y, Yoshino M, Matsuishi T, Takanashi J, Shotelersuk V, Tekin M, Ochi N, Kubota M, Ito N, Ihara K, Hara T, Tonoki H, Ohta T, Saito K, Matsuo M, Urano M, Enokizono T, Sato A, Tanaka H, Ogawa A, Fujita T, Hiraki Y, Kitanaka S, Matsubara Y, Makita T, Taguri M, Nakashima M, Tsurusaki Y, Saitsu H, Yoshiura K, Matsumoto N, Niikawa N. MLL2 and KDM6A mutations in patients with Kabuki syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2013 Sep;161A(9):2234-43. 

PubMed ID: 
23913813

Oculootofacial Dysplasia

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Many patients have lower lid colobomas, sometimes with malformations of the zygoma.  The palpebral fissures may appear narrow while some patients have a suggestion of hypertelorism.

Systemic Features: 

Neural development is normal but patients have significant facial dysmorphism. A variety of organ and bony malformations have been described.  Cardiac septal defects and sometimes renal malformations may be present.  The ears are large and are sometimes associated with preauricular tags.  Cleft lip and/or palate with bifid uvula, micrognathia, high nasal bridge, large nose, a short philtrum, choanal atresia, and mixed hearing loss are often present.  Choanal atresia is common.

Genetics

Biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the TXNL4A gene have been found in this presumed autosomal recessive condition. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Individual malformations can often be surgically corrected.

References
Article Title: 

Compound heterozygosity of low-frequency promoter deletions and rare loss-of-function mutations in TXNL4A causes Burn-McKeown syndrome

Wieczorek D, Newman WG, Wieland T, Berulava T, Kaffe M, Falkenstein D, Beetz C, Graf E, Schwarzmayr T, Douzgou S, Clayton-Smith J, Daly SB, Williams SG, Bhaskar SS, Urquhart JE, Anderson B, O'Sullivan J, Boute O, Gundlach J, Czeschik JC, van Essen AJ, Hazan F, Park S, Hing A, Kuechler A, Lohmann DR, Ludwig KU, Mangold E, Steenpass L, Zeschnigk M, Lemke JR, Lourenco CM, Hehr U, Prott EC, Waldenberger M, Bohmer AC, Horsthemke B, O'Keefe RT, Meitinger T, Burn J, Ludecke HJ, Strom TM. Compound heterozygosity of low-frequency promoter deletions and rare loss-of-function mutations in TXNL4A causes Burn-McKeown syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2014 Dec 4;95(6):698-707.

PubMed ID: 
25434003

Galloway-Mowat Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Microphthalmia, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds and ptosis are prominent ocular features.  Other manifestations include corneal opacities, cataracts, and optic atrophy.  Nystagmus of a roving nature is seen in all individuals and is usually present at birth.  There is evidence of visual impairment in more than 90% of individuals.  Features of an anterior chamber dysgenesis such as a hypoplastic iris are sometimes present.

The ocular features of this syndrome have not been fully described.

Systemic Features: 

Infants are born with low birth weight due to intrauterine growth retardation and there is often a history of oligohydramnios.  Newborns are often floppy and hypotonic although spasticity may develop later.  A small midface and microcephaly (80%) with a sloping forehead and a flat occiput are frequently evident.  The ears are large, floppy, and low-set while the hard palate is highly arched and the degree of micrognathia can be severe.  The fists are often clenched and the digits can appear narrow and arachnodactylous.  Hiatal hernias may be present.

Many patients develop features of the nephrotic syndrome in the first year of life with proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia due to glomerular kidney disease and renal system malformations.  Renal biopsies show focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in the majority of glomeruli.

Evidence of abnormal neuronal migration with brain deformities such as cystic changes, porencephaly, encephalomalacia, and spinal canal anomalies have been reported.  MRI imaging shows diffuse cortical and cerebellar atrophy atrophic optic nerves, and thinning of the corpus callosum.  The normal striated layers of the lateral geniculate nuclei are obliterated.  The cerebellum shows severe cellular disorganization with profound depletion of granule cells and excessive Bergmann gliosis.  The vermis is shortened. 

Multifocal seizures are sometimes (40%) seen in infancy and early childhood and the EEG generally shows slowed and disorganized backgound and sometimes a high-voltage hypsarrhythmia.  The degree of psychomotor delay and intellectual disability is often severe.   Most patients are unable to sit independently (90%), ambulate (90%), or make purposeful hand movements (77%).  The majority (87%) of children have extrapyramidal movements and a combination of axial dystonia and limb chorea.  Mean age of death is about 11 years (2.7 to 28 years in one series) and most die from renal failure.

Genetics

Gallaway-Mowat syndrome is likely a spectrum of disease.  Homozygous mutations in the WDR73 gene (15q25) are responsible for one form of this syndrome.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for GAMOS.

References
Article Title: 

Recessive nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum is caused by homozygous protein-truncating mutations of WDR73

Jinks RN, Puffenberger EG, Baple E, Harding B, Crino P, Fogo AB, Wenger O, Xin B, Koehler AE, McGlincy MH, Provencher MM, Smith JD, Tran L, Al Turki S, Chioza BA, Cross H, Harlalka GV, Hurles ME, Maroofian R, Heaps AD, Morton MC, Stempak L, Hildebrandt F, Sadowski CE, Zaritsky J, Campellone K, Morton DH, Wang H, Crosby A, Strauss KA. Recessive nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum is caused by homozygous protein-truncating mutations of WDR73. Brain. 2015 Aug;138(Pt 8):2173-90.  PubMed PMID: 26070982.

PubMed ID: 
26070982

Loss-of-Function Mutations in WDR73 Are Responsible for Microcephaly and Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome: Galloway-Mowat Syndrome

Colin E, Huynh Cong E, Mollet G, Guichet A, Gribouval O, Arrondel C, Boyer O, Daniel L, Gubler MC, Ekinci Z, Tsimaratos M, Chabrol B, Boddaert N, Verloes A, Chevrollier A, Gueguen N, Desquiret-Dumas V, Ferre M, Procaccio V, Richard L, Funalot B, Moncla A, Bonneau D, Antignac C. Loss-of-Function Mutations in WDR73 Are Responsible for Microcephaly and Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome: Galloway-Mowat Syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2014 Dec 4;95(6):637-48..

PubMed ID: 
25466283

Iridogoniodysgenesis and Skeletal Anomalies

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Megalocornea, congenital glaucoma, a concave iris with stromal atrophy and corectopia, and deep anterior chambers are typical ocular features.  High myopia has been reported and retinal detachments have been observed.  Glaucoma control can be difficult to achieve and there is a significant risk of cataracts and phthisis bulbi following surgery.  Posterior embryotoxon has not been observed.

Systemic Features: 

Facial features seem to be consistent.  The forehead is wide, the nose appears broad with a large nasal tip and broad nares although the bridge appears narrow.  The philtrum is long and wide.  The ears may appear large and the neck is short.  The thorax is abnormally wide and the nipples are widely spaced and umbilicated.  The long bones are slender with thin cortices and wide metaphyses.  There is generalized osteopenia.  Vertebral bodies are cuboid-shaped with narrow vertebral canals and enlarged apophyses

Genetics

Two non-consanguineous families each with 3 sibs have been reported suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance.  Nothing is known about the mutation or its locus.

The ocular features may resemble Rieger or Axenfeld anomaly but these are inherited in autosomal dominant patterns and the skeletal features are dissimilar.       

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Vigorous treatment of glaucoma is indicated but successful control, even with surgery, is difficult to achieve.

References
Article Title: 

Potter Disease, Type I

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

As part of the facial morphology said to be characteristic of Potter disease, there is usually hypertelorism, telecanthus and epicanthal folds.  Cataracts and angiomas of the optic disc area have also been described.

Systemic Features: 

Polycystic kidney disease and hepatic system anomalies are major features of Potter disease.   Pulmonary hypoplasia with neonatal respiratory distress, however, is often the most immediate cause of death in most infants.  Antenatal oligohydramnios and low birth weight are commonly present.  As many as 33% of fetuses die in utero, often the result of bilateral renal agenesis.  Infants that survive can have chronic lung disease and renal dysfunction.  Congenital heart malformations are common, including septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot and patent ductus arteriosis.  Vertebrae may have a ‘butterfly’ shape but other skeletal findings include hemivertebrae and sacral agenesis.  The neck has been described as short and the skull is brachycephalic.

The facial appearance, known as Potter facies, is said to be characteristic and may be helpful in distinguishing this type of polycystic kidney disease.  In addition to the ocular findings, the nares are often anteverted, and the external ears are large and often posteriorly rotated.

Genetics

The uniqueness of this syndrome remains to be established.  There are several polycystic kidney disorders which have a monogenic basis. These often have overlapping renal features with the condition described here but lack the facial features said to be characteristic of Potter type I disease.  Autosomal recessive inheritance has been suggested on the basis of several reported families with affected sibs from consanguineous parents but so far no gene locus or mutation has been identified.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for the condition but symptoms of respiratory distress and renal failure may need to be addressed acutely.  Long-term therapy for pulmonary disease and renal dysfunction can be considered for older individuals.  Many infants die in the neonatal period.

References
Article Title: 

Syndrome of autosomal recessive polycystic kidneys with skeletal and facial anomalies is not linked to the ARPKD gene locus on chromosome 6p

Hallermann C, M?ocher G, Kohlschmidt N, Wellek B, Schumacher R, Bahlmann F, Shahidi-Asl P, Theile U, Rudnik-Schoneborn S, M?ontefering H, Zerres K. Syndrome of autosomal recessive polycystic kidneys with skeletal and facial anomalies is not linked to the ARPKD gene locus on chromosome 6p. Am J Med Genet. 2000 Jan 17;90(2):115-9. Review.

PubMed ID: 
10607948
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