flat facies

Cataracts, Congenital, Deafness, Short Stature, Developmental Delay

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The facial features superficially resemble those often seen in Down syndrome patients with slanting (up or down) lid fissures and epicanthal folds. The amount of ptosis is variable.  Lens opacities are usually congenital in origin.  Hypopigmentation of the macula has been noted in two individuals.

Systemic Features: 

The characteristic facies may be evident at birth and requires karyotyping to rule out the trisomy of Down syndrome. Brachycephaly and a flat face may be present.  The mouth is often small and the nasal tip is shortened while the philtrum is long and smooth.  Some degree of intellectual disability and neurosensory hearing loss soon become evident.  There is postnatal growth delay and most individuals are short in stature.  The ears are low-set and rotated posteriorly.

The skeletal anomalies are not fully delineated but one patient had bilateral radioulnar synostosis while hip chondrolysis requiring hip replacement has been seen in two adult individuals.  Limited motion may be present in some joints, both large and small.  Seizures have been reported in a few individuals. Nails may appear dystrophic and there are variable tooth anomalies present. 

Genetics

The responsible heterozygous mutations are in the MAF gene (16q22-q23).  Type 4 (CCA4) (610202) autosomal dominant cerulean cataracts with multiple morphologies may also result from mutations in this transcription factor gene.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No general treatment for this condition is known.  Congenital cataracts can be removed.  Some patients may benefit from special education.   Seizure medications may be indicated and some patients can benefit from hearing aids.  Severe joint disease may require replacement.

References
Article Title: 

Mutations Impairing GSK3-Mediated MAF Phosphorylation Cause Cataract, Deafness, Intellectual Disability, Seizures, and a Down Syndrome-like Facies

Niceta M, Stellacci E, Gripp KW, Zampino G, Kousi M, Anselmi M, Traversa A, Ciolfi A, Stabley D, Bruselles A, Caputo V, Cecchetti S, Prudente S, Fiorenza MT, Boitani C, Philip N, Niyazov D, Leoni C, Nakane T, Keppler-Noreuil K, Braddock SR, Gillessen-Kaesbach G, Palleschi A, Campeau PM, Lee BH, Pouponnot C, Stella L, Bocchinfuso G, Katsanis N, Sol-Church K, Tartaglia M. Mutations Impairing GSK3-Mediated MAF Phosphorylation Cause Cataract, Deafness, Intellectual Disability, Seizures, and a Down Syndrome-like Facies. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 May 7;96(5):816-25.

PubMed ID: 
25865493
Subscribe to RSS - flat facies