coloboma

Coloboma, Microphthalmia, Albinism, and Deafness

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

A 5 year old male has been described with uveal colobomas in microphthalmic eyes plus small corneas with a pannus, dense cataracts, translucent irides, and hypopigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes.  A brain MRI showed hypoplasia of the optic nerves and chiasm.   

A 9 month old female from another family had severe microphthalmia and small optic nerves.  The internal ocular features were not reported.

Systemic Features: 

The complete phenotype is uncertain since it is based on only two reported and unrelated individuals.  The head circumference one one patient was consistent with macrocephaly accompanied by frontal bossing, shallow orbits, preauricular pits and posteriorly rotated ears.  A skeletal survey revealed evidence for osteopetrosis.  He had a sensorineural hearing deficit said to be congenital in onset.

The other patient, a 9 month old female, belonged to another nonconsanguineous family, and had similar skeletal and craniofacial features with the addition of micrognathia and hypotonia.  Congenital neurosensory hearing loss and general lack of pigmentation were noted.

All four parents have congenital sensorineural hearing loss, blue irides and fair skin with premature graying of hair.  Four sibs in the two families have phenotypes similar to that of the parents.  Only one child, a female, had no features of the phenotype.

Genetics

This condition, so far reported only in a male and a female in unrelated families, is the result of doubly heterozygous mutations in the MITF gene (3p13).  One mutation that causes Waardenburg syndrome 2  (WS2A) (193510) is combined with a dominant-negative allele (c.952_954delAGA [p.Arg318del]) to produce the phenotype.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Duane-Radial Ray Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Most individuals have features of Duane’s anomaly, sometimes unilaterally.  Optic pallor with poor vision has been described in well-studied patients who also had thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer.  The optic disk may appear hypoplastic.  Visual evoked potentials and pattern ERG amplitudes are decreased.

Other less common ocular features are microcornea, microphthalmia, ophthalmoplegia, hypertelorism, cataracts, epicanthal folds, colobomas, and chorioretinal scars.

Systemic Features: 

The systemic features are inconsistent (variable expressivity) with most patients having some variation of hypodactyly, polydactyly, syndactyly, and malformation of the hands.  The thumb is the most common digit involved and this is often associated with thenar hypoplasia.  Other skeletal features of the radial ray syndrome including absence of the radial and ulnar bones are variably present.  Hearing loss is described as sensorineural in etiology but malformations of the pinnae and external meatus are sometimes present.

Kidney anomalies include horseshoe malformations, abnormal rotation, ectopia, small size, vesicoureteric reflux, and pelvicalyceal dilatation.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant disorder due to heterozygous mutations in the SALL4 gene (20q13.2).

This syndrome is sometimes confused with the Holt-Oram syndrome but the latter is the result of mutations in a different gene and lacks ocular and renal abnormalities.  Duane syndrome 1 and 2 may also occur as isolated conditions.

The considerable clinical heterogeneity has led to alternate titles for this syndrome. For example, what is sometimes called the IVIC syndrome (147750) with similar features is also caused by mutations in this gene.  Duane-radial ray syndrome has also been called Okihiro syndrome. 

 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is symptomatic in most cases although reconstructive surgery may be helpful for severe hand deformities.  Low vision aids may be beneficial.  

References
Article Title: 

Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation, Type Iq

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Colobomas (iris, choroid, and sometimes optic nerve), optic nerve hypoplasia and nystagmus have been reported.  Visual acuity is variable depending upon the degree of nerve hypoplasia. The eyebrows may be highly arched, while downward slanting lid fissures, and hypertelorism may also be present.

Congenital cataracts, glaucoma and microphthalmia have been reported in several individuals.

Systemic Features: 

Onset of symptoms commonly begins in infancy with severe hypotonia while developmental delays soon become evident as most children do not achieve normal milestones.  The amount of cognitive impairment is variable.  Congenital cardiac defects, ichthyosis, and hypertrichosis may be present.  The skin over the dorsum of the hands and feet often appears dark.  Ataxia is sometimes present and MRIs may reveal vermal and cerebellar hypoplasia.

Facial dysmorphism is common.  Low-set malformed ears, low hairline, depressed nasal bridge, redundant facial skin, decreased subcutaneous tissue, large mouth, thin lips, and long face have been noted.

There is considerable variation in clinical manifestations and longevity varies from infancy to adulthood.

Genetics

This glycosylation disorder is one of a number of rare hepatic/intestinal disorders caused by a deficiency in N-oligosaccharide synthesis.  It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern as a result of mutations in SRD5A3 (4q12).  Both homozygous and compound heterozygous genotypes have been reported.  It is allelic to Kahrizi syndrome (612713) with a number of overlapping features including ocular colobomas and cognitive deficiencies.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

The administration of caloric supplements through tube feeding may be required to maintain adequate nutrition.Orthopedic deformities can sometimes be corrected surgically.

References
Article Title: 

A novel cerebello-ocular syndrome with abnormal glycosylation due to abnormalities in dolichol metabolism

Morava E, Wevers RA, Cantagrel V, Hoefsloot LH, Al-Gazali L, Schoots J, van Rooij A, Huijben K, van Ravenswaaij-Arts CM, Jongmans MC, Sykut-Cegielska J, Hoffmann GF, Bluemel P, Adamowicz M, van Reeuwijk J, Ng BG, Bergman JE, van Bokhoven H, Korner C, Babovic-Vuksanovic D, Willemsen MA, Gleeson JG, Lehle L, de Brouwer AP, Lefeber DJ. A novel cerebello-ocular syndrome with abnormal glycosylation due to abnormalities in dolichol metabolism. Brain. 2010 Nov;133(11):3210-20.

PubMed ID: 
20852264

SRD5A3 is required for converting polyprenol to dolichol and is mutated in a congenital glycosylation disorder

Cantagrel V, Lefeber DJ, Ng BG, Guan Z, Silhavy JL, Bielas SL, Lehle L, Hombauer H, Adamowicz M, Swiezewska E, De Brouwer AP, Bl?omel P, Sykut-Cegielska J, Houliston S, Swistun D, Ali BR, Dobyns WB, Babovic-Vuksanovic D, van Bokhoven H, Wevers RA, Raetz CR, Freeze HH, Morava E, Al-Gazali L, Gleeson JG. SRD5A3 is required for converting polyprenol to dolichol and is mutated in a congenital glycosylation disorder. Cell. 2010 Jul 23;142(2):203-17.

PubMed ID: 
20637498

Kahrizi Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

In an Iranian family with 3 affected sibs, cataracts (not further characterized) were noted in late adolescence.  Iris colobomas, unilateral in one sib and bilateral in another, were present.

Systemic Features: 

Children have severe psychomotor delays from birth and have severe mental retardation.  Speech and normal motor function never develop fully.  Thoracic kyphosis begins in late childhood and contractures develop in the elbows and knees.  A CAT scan in one patient revealed only normal findings.  Facial features have been described as ‘coarse’ with prominent lips, broad nasal bridge, and a bulbous nose.  Some individuals with this condition have lived into the 5th decade.  Ataxia is usually present although the cerebellum may be normal on MRI.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive condition resulting from homozygous mutations in the SRD5A3 gene (4q12).

Kahrizi syndrome is allelic to CDG1Q, or congenital disorder of glycosylation type Iq (612379), an autosomal recessive disorder with mutations in the same gene and a partially overlapping ocular phenotype.

At least 10 families have been reported with mutations in this gene considered important to glycosylation.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No specific treatment is available for this condition although physical therapy and cataract surgery might be considered in specific individuals.

References
Article Title: 

SRD5A3 is required for converting polyprenol to dolichol and is mutated in a congenital glycosylation disorder

Cantagrel V, Lefeber DJ, Ng BG, Guan Z, Silhavy JL, Bielas SL, Lehle L, Hombauer H, Adamowicz M, Swiezewska E, De Brouwer AP, Bl?omel P, Sykut-Cegielska J, Houliston S, Swistun D, Ali BR, Dobyns WB, Babovic-Vuksanovic D, van Bokhoven H, Wevers RA, Raetz CR, Freeze HH, Morava E, Al-Gazali L, Gleeson JG. SRD5A3 is required for converting polyprenol to dolichol and is mutated in a congenital glycosylation disorder. Cell. 2010 Jul 23;142(2):203-17.

PubMed ID: 
20637498

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: 

Coloboma of the Optic Nerve

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Isolated colobomas of the optic nerve in the absence of other malformations may occur unilaterally or bilaterally.  The optic nerve cups are often huge and may have residual glial tissue in them.  Serous detachments of the macula are frequently observed and the risk for extensive retinal detachments is high. Microphthalmos with a cyst (6% of eyes), simple microphthalmos (39% of eyes), and microcornea (84% of eyes) are frequently associated.  The visual prognosis is poor when these occur in combination with an optic nerve coloboma (less than 20/400 acuity in 67% of eyes).  Isolated optic nerve colobomas without other malformations have the best vision (only 7% have acuity of less than 20/400).  Retinal vessels are anomalous as well.  They are often increased in number and have a generally straight course in the peripapillary region.

It has been argued that the morning glory disc anomaly may be an expression of this syndrome but this remains to be established.

Systemic Features: 

No systemic disease is present.

Genetics

This malformation frequently follows an autosomal dominant pattern of transmission secondary to a mutation in the PAX6 gene.

The PAX6 gene impacts DNA transcription and mutations are therefore often associated with a variety of ocular malformations, including uveal colobomas and various forms of anterior chamber dysgenesis.

Optic nerve dysplasia resembling optic pits or the morning glory disc anomaly is a feature of the papillorenal syndrome (120330) but this condition is caused by mutations in the PAX2 gene.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

None.  Low vision aids may be helpful in some patients.

References
Article Title: 

Coloboma, Ptosis, Hypertelorism, and Global Delay

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular phenotype includes ptosis, hypertelorism, iris coloboma and prominent epicanthal folds with epicanthus inversus.  The coloboma may be unilateral and involve other portions of the uveal tract. The orbits have been described as shallow.  At least one patient has been described as having microphthalmia and microcornea.

Systemic Features: 

The systemic features reported include severe global delay, a broad nasal bridge, and short stature.  Physical growth delay, mental retardation, short neck, low-set ears, and low posterior hairline have been noted.  Males may have a micropenis and undescended testicles.  The pinnae may be malformed and rotated posteriorly. Several patients had a hearing deficit.

CT scans have shown microcephaly with pachygyria and or even virtual agyria of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.

Genetics

This condition is caused by heterozygous mutations in the ACTG1 gene (17q25.3) and therefore transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern.  Sibs but no parental consanguinity has been reported.  Both sexes are affected.

Mutations in the same gene are responsible for a somewhat similar condition known as Baraister-Winter 2 syndrome (614583).

Temtamy syndrome (218340) has some similar features but is caused by mutations in C12orf57 (12p13).  In addition to microphthalmia and colobomas, intractable seizures, global delay and abnormalities of the corpus callosum are present.

Several patients that may have had this syndrome have had pericentric inversions of chromosome 2: inv(2)(p12q14).  The PAX8 gene maps to the distal breakpoint of this inversion and may play a role as the location of a recessive mutation or as part of a submicroscopic inversion.  No parent-child transmission has been reported.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is known.

References
Article Title: 

Exome sequencing identifies compound heterozygous mutations in C12orf57 in two siblings with severe intellectual disability, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, chorioretinal coloboma, and intractable seizures

Platzer K, Huning I, Obieglo C, Schwarzmayr T, Gabriel R, Strom TM, Gillessen-Kaesbach G, Kaiser FJ. Exome sequencing identifies compound heterozygous mutations in C12orf57 in two siblings with severe intellectual disability, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, chorioretinal coloboma, and intractable seizures. Am J Med Genet A. 2014 May 5. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
24798461

Coloboma, Isolated

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Colobomas of the uveal tract are often found in association with other ocular anomalies including those with systemic disease. They are usually located in the inferonasal quadrant as a result of defective closure of the embryonic fissure in the optic cup.  Most involve the nearly complete iris and resemble a keyhole but they may also be partial resulting in an oval pupil.  They are sometimes unilateral in which case the involved iris may be more heavily pigmented than the contralateral one.  They may involve only the iris (simple coloboma) but often are more extensive with involvement of the ciliary body, retina, lens, choroid, and even the optic nerve.  They are frequently associated with microphthalmia (or microphthalmia with cyst [5.6%]) and microcornea (79%). 

Systemic Features: 

None by definition.

Genetics

Isolated colobomas are clinically and genetically heterogeneous resulting from mutations in SHH (7q36.3), PAX6 (11p13), and ABCB6 (2q35) among others.  Large pedigrees with typical autosomal dominant transmission patterns have been reported.

Homozygous mutations in SALL2 (14q11.1-q12.1) have also been reported in patients with isolated colobomas.  Studies of sall2-deficient mice show defects in closure of the anterior optic fissure while posterior closure proceeds normally.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Simple iris colobomas usually do not require treatment.  The visual prognosis depends upon the structures involved.  Those with microcornea usually have a lower acuity and, of course, eyes with the most extensive involvement of the uveal tract and/or the optic nerve may have the least vision. Low vision aids can be helpful in selected individuals.

References
Article Title: 

Mutation of SALL2 causes recessive ocular coloboma in humans and mice

Kelberman D, Islam L, Lakowski J, Bacchelli C, Chanudet E, Lescai F, Patel A, Stupka E, Buck A, Wolf S, Beales PL, Jacques TS, Bitner-Glindzicz M, Liasis A, Lehmann OJ, Kohlhase J, Nischal KK, Sowden JC. Mutation of SALL2 causes recessive ocular coloboma in humans and mice. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Jan 12. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
24412933

ABCB6 Mutations Cause Ocular Coloboma

Wang L, He F, Bu J, Liu X, Du W, Dong J, Cooney JD, Dubey SK, Shi Y, Gong B, Li J, McBride PF, Jia Y, Lu F, Soltis KA, Lin Y, Namburi P, Liang C, Sundaresan P, Paw BH, Li DY, Phillips JD, Yang Z. ABCB6 Mutations Cause Ocular Coloboma. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Jan 13;90(1):40-8.

PubMed ID: 
22226084

Microphthalmia, AR

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The most consistent feature associated with mutations in the VSX2 gene is, of course, microphthalmia/anophthalmia.  Other anomalies include dysplasia of the retina, cataracts and/or dislocated lenses, and iris anomalies ranging from hypoplasia to colobomas and absence of the pupils. Colobomas may also involve the posterior uveal tract as well as the optic nerve. The majority of patients are blind.   

Systemic Features: 

No systemic features are associated.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the VSX2 (formerly CHX10) gene located at 14q24.3.  The gene is expressed in progenitor cells of the developing neuroretina and in inner nuclear cells of the adult retina.   Most parents are consanguineous.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

None other than rehabilitation.

References
Article Title: 

Organoid Nevus Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The sebaceous nevi often involve the eyelids, cornea, and conjunctiva.  Dermoids and lipodermoids are also seen.  Iris and choroidal colobomas are often present.  The sclerae may contain cartilage and bone which can be visible on CAT scans.  Depending upon the structures involved, patients may have strabismus, nystagmus, ptosis, exposure keratitis, and nerve palsies.

 

Systemic Features: 

Phakomatous lesions on the skin seem to preferentially occur on the upper part of the body including the face, neck and scalp but they may occur anywhere on the body including the oral cavity.  Initially they appear as papules but become verrucous around puberty.  Malignant transformation is seen in 15-20 per cent of patients.

Mental retardation and seizures are often seen in the first year of life.  Milestones achieved during that time are often lost subsequently.  Generalized weakness, osteopenia, and intracranial aneurysms are features in some patients.  Bone involvement may be highly asymmetrical.

Biopsies of conjunctival lesions show choristomas containing hyperplastic sebaceous and apocrine glands along with hair follicles.

Genetics

No clear genetic basis exists for this disease.  However, several families with multigenerational involvement have been reported in an autosomal dominant pattern.  It has been suggested that the disorder may result from a dominant lethal gene that allows some patients to survive by chance mosaicism.

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available for the generalized disease but therapy for specific symptoms such as epilepsy may be helpful.

References
Article Title: 

Ophthalmic features of the organoid nevus syndrome

Shields JA, Shields CL, Eagle RC Jr, Arevalo F, De Potter P. Ophthalmic features of the organoid nevus syndrome. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1996;94:65-86; discussion 86-7. Review.

PubMed ID: 
8981690

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