hearing loss

Optic Atrophy, Ophthalmoplegia, Myopathy, and Neuropathy

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Visual symptoms have an insidious onset in childhood with vision loss and progressive external ophthalmoplegia.  Ptosis may be evident later.  The optic atrophy is progressive.   ERG abnormalities have been reported but no pigmentary retinopathy has been seen.  Myopia is sometimes present.

Systemic Features: 

The extraocular signs and symptoms are variable and generally have a later onset.  Some patients have an early onset of sensorineural hearing loss.  Muscle cramps and hyperreflexia may occur with clonus and a spastic gait.  Ataxia seems to be common.  The neurological phenotype has been likened to muscular sclerosis, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, and spastic paraplegia.  Muscle biopsies show variable-sized and atrophic fibers.

Genetics

This is generally considered an autosomal dominant disorder secondary to mutations in the OPA1 gene.  It is allelic to optic atrophy 1 (165500) but may also be the same condition since the p.Arg247His mutation has been found in patients with both disorders.  This syndromic form of optic atrophy may also result from biallelic mutations in OPA1 in which the clinical disease is more severe and earlier in onset. 

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available for the neurological disease but low vision aids should be considered to selected patients especially during childhood educational activities.

References
Article Title: 

Multi-system neurological disease is common in patients with OPA1 mutations

Yu-Wai-Man P, Griffiths PG, Gorman GS, Lourenco CM, Wright AF, Auer-Grumbach M, Toscano A, Musumeci O, Valentino ML, Caporali L, Lamperti C, Tallaksen CM, Duffey P, Miller J, Whittaker RG, Baker MR, Jackson MJ, Clarke MP, Dhillon B, Czermin B, Stewart JD, Hudson G, Reynier P, Bonneau D, Marques W Jr, Lenaers G, McFarland R, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM, Votruba M, Zeviani M, Carelli V, Bindoff LA, Horvath R, Amati-Bonneau P, Chinnery PF. Multi-system neurological disease is common in patients with OPA1 mutations. Brain. 2010 Mar;133(Pt 3):771-86.

PubMed ID: 
20157015

Feingold Syndrome 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Short, narrow palpebral fissures have been reported (73%).  The fissures may be up slanting and epicanthal folds have been noted.   

Systemic Features: 

The face can appear asymmetrical and triangular and the head is small in 89% of individuals.  Micrognathia is usually present and the lips appear full.  The nasal bridge is broad and the nostrils are anteverted.  The ears are often low-set and rotated posteriorly.  Syndactyly of the toes is common (97%) and the fingers are often anomalous (particularly 5th finger clinodactyly and brachydactyly) with hypoplastic thumbs.  Shortening of the 2nd and 5th middle phalanx of the fingers is especially common.  True short stature is uncommon but 60% are below the 10th centile.  Rare individuals have a sensorineural hearing loss.

Tracheoesophageal fistulas are often present, together with atresia of the duodenum and sometimes the esophagus as well.  Cardiac, renal, and vertebral malformations are seen in a minority of patients.

Intelligence may be normal but more often is below average and learning difficulties are often present.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant disorder secondary to mutations in the MYCN gene (2p24.3).

MYCN is up regulated in some patients with retinoblastoma (180200).

Feingold syndrome 2 (614326) is caused by hemizygous deletions of the MIR17HG gene but no ocular signs have been reported.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no known treatment for the syndrome but surgery can be important for some of the external and internal malformations. Special education and treatment of hearing loss are important.

References
Article Title: 

Genotype-phenotype correlations in MYCN-related Feingold syndrome

Marcelis CL, Hol FA, Graham GE, Rieu PN, Kellermayer R, Meijer RP, Lugtenberg D, Scheffer H, van Bokhoven H, Brunner HG, de Brouwer AP. Genotype-phenotype correlations in MYCN-related Feingold syndrome. Hum Mutat. 2008 Sep;29(9):1125-32.

PubMed ID: 
18470948

LEOPARD Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Ocular hypertelorism is a characteristic of all forms of the LEOPARD syndrome.  The lid fissures may be downward slanting.  Combined with the inverted triangle facies, the appearance is similar to that of the Noonan syndrome (163950).

Systemic Features: 

This is a multisystem disorder manifest in skin, heart, skeletal, genital, neurologic and auditory systems.  Generalized lentiginosis is characteristic but they may not be present until age 4 or 5 years following the appearance of cafe-au-lait spots.  Some patients have patchy scalp hair loss.  The facies bears some resemblance to the Noonan syndrome but usually without the short, webbed neck.  Sensorineural hearing loss is found in 20% of individuals.  Cardiac conduction defects, pulmonic stenosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are often (85%) present.  Cognitive defects are present in 30% of patients and some individuals have been described as mentally retarded.  Juvenile behavior may be evident in the presence of normal intelligence.  Hypospadias, cryptorchidism, and gonadal infantilism have been seen in some patients.  The ears are often malformed (87%).  Thoracic skeletal anomalies have been described in 75% of patients.  Although somatic growth is described as slow, short stature is present in less than half of patients.

Rare patients without lentigines are said to resemble the Noonan syndrome (163950) in appearance.

Genetics

Heterozygous mutations in the PTPN11 gene (12q24) are most frequently responsible for this autosomal dominant disorder.  The same gene is mutated in more than half of patients with the Noonan syndrome (NS1)(163950) with which it is allelic.  Other mutations that cause what is called LEOPARD syndrome are RAF1 and BRAF.

Other types of LEOPARD syndrome such as LEOPARD syndrome 2 (611554) are far more rare but also share mutations with Noonan syndrome (RAF1 mutations in Noonan syndrome 5) (611553) and LEOPARD syndrome 3 (613707) with mutations in BRAF similar to that seen in NS7 (613706).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Assistive hearing devices, especially cochlear implants, may be helpful.  Special education can be of value in more mildly affected individuals.Treatment of cryptorchidism is similar to that of other children.

References
Article Title: 

Waardenburg Syndrome, Type 3

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Type 3 Waardenburg syndrome has many of the features of other types but with the addition of upper limb anomalies.  Dystopia canthorum and a broad nasal root are characteristic.  Iris heterochromia is present in some patients.  Hypopigmentation may be seen in lashes and eyebrows.

Systemic Features: 

The upper limbs may appear underdeveloped with flexion contractures, fusion of the carpal bones and sometimes syndactyly.  A white forelock may or may not be present.  The cranial bones may be anomalous and rare patients can have microcephaly with significant mental retardation.  Mental function is usually normal though. Occasional patients have cleft palate and/or lip. Hearing loss is of the sensorineural type.  Hypopigmented skin patches are sometimes present but not all patients have them.

Genetics

The uniqueness of Waardenburg syndrome types 1 and 3 remains to be established.  Mutations in the PAX3 gene are responsible for both types and both have been found in the same family.  The phenotype is transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern in either case but several families have been reported with type 1 WS in parents heterozygous for PAX3 mutations who had a homozygous child with the type 3 phenotype.  However, heterozygous individuals with type 3 have also been reported and the relationship of the two types remains unknown.

Craniofacial-deafness-hand syndrome(122880) with mutations in PAX3 has many features similar to those found in Waardenburg syndrome type 3 and may or may not be a unique disorder.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for the syndrome but cochlear implants might be helpful.

References
Article Title: 

Craniofacial-Deafness-Hand Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

This rare syndrome has anomalies in periocular structures but not in the eye itself.  The lid fissures are downward slanting with telecanthus and hypertelorism.  The nasolacrimal duct was missing in several individuals.

Systemic Features: 

The midface is generally flat with underdeveloped maxillary bones and absent or small nasal bones but there may be frontal bossing.  The nose appears hypoplastic with a broad, flat root resulting in dystopia canthorum.  Micrognathia and a high arched palate are sometimes present.   The sinuses are often underdeveloped.  There may be ulnar deviation of the hands and fingers while flexion contractures and clinodactyly of the 5th finger are often present.  A sensorineural hearing loss is present in many individuals.  No poliosis has been reported.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant condition secondary to mutations in the PAX3 gene (22q36.1) in at least some patients.  Changes in the same gene are responsible for types 1 and 3 of the Waardenburg syndrome (193500, 148820).  In fact, the major mutation, a heterozygous C-to-G transversion, has been identified in the same codon in both CDHS and Waardenburg 3 (148820) patients.

More patients need to be genotyped to clarify the clinical features distinctive of Waardenburg types 1 and 3 (193500, 148820) and CDHS syndrome.  Should we consider these conditions allelic or simply the result of variable expressivity?  The appearance of the nasal root and associated structures is similar and both conditions are associated with sensorineural hearing loss.  Type 3 Waardenburg syndrome (148820) often has a cleft palate and musculoskeletal deformities of the upper limbs and fingers.  So far, no pigmentation changes have been reported in CDHS.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Surgical release of contractures could be considered.

References
Article Title: 

Spinocerebellar Ataxia, Infantile-Onset

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Ocular problems begin by about age 7 years when various degrees of ophthalmoplegia appear.  By the second decade damage to the optic nerves is evident (optic atrophy) leading to severe vision loss.

Systemic Features: 

This mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome allows normal development in the first year of life.  By 10-18 months of age, muscle weakness and coordination become evident.  Deep tendon reflexes are diminished or absent.  The muscle deficits are relentlessly progressive and by teenage years most individuals are wheelchair-bound.  Generalized seizures are common.  Facial and limb dyskinesia of an athetoid nature is evident to a variable degree.  A sensory polyneuropathy develops in many patients.  Cerebellar atrophy is evident on neuroimaging.

Neurosensory hearing loss may become evident late in the first decade of life.  The amount of hearing loss is progressive, leading eventually to profound deafness.  Some patients experience a complete loss of vestibular caloric responses. 

Most individuals live to adulthood but a severe form of this disease in which liver damage and encephalopathy occur limits the lifespan to about 5 years.

Genetics

This infantile-onset form of spinocerebellar atrophy results from homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the C10ORF2 gene (10q24) which encodes the so-called Twinkle and Twinky mitochondrial proteins. Since the Twinkle protein is involved in the production and maintenance of mitochondrial DNA, its malfunction leads to reduced quantities of mtDNA in the liver and CNS but not in skeletal muscle.

Mutations in the C10ORF2 gene affecting the Twinkle protein may be responsible for an autosomal dominant progressive ophthalmoplegia (609286) in which ptosis and cataracts are often found but the more extensive muscle and sensory deficits are often missing.  This is one of the better examples of seemingly unique, allelic phenotypes resulting from different mutations in the same gene.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment has been reported but physical therapy, assistive hearing devices, and low vision aids might be helpful in selected patients.

References
Article Title: 

Infantile onset spinocerebellar ataxia caused by compound heterozygosity for Twinkle mutations and modeling of Twinkle mutations causing recessive disease

Pierce SB, Gulsuner S, Stapleton GA, Walsh T, Lee MK, Mandell JB, Morales A, Klevit RE, King MC, Rogers RC. Infantile onset spinocerebellar ataxia caused by compound heterozygosity for Twinkle mutations and modeling of Twinkle mutations causing recessive disease. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud. 2016 Jul;2(4):a001107. doi: 10.1101/mcs.a001107.

PubMed ID: 
27551684

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: 

Williams Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Blue irides (77%) and a lacey or stellate pattern (74%) of the iris are characteristic.  The stroma appears coarse with radial or cartwheel striations.  The iris collarette is usually absent or anomalous.  Features of the Peters' anomaly may be present.  The periorbital tissues are described as 'full' and prominent.  Strabismus (usually esotropia) occurs in more than half of patients.  Retinal vessel tortuosity is present in 22% of patients.  Cataracts may be found in younger individuals but are uncommon. Hyperopia is the most common refractive error.  Keratoconus has been described in at least 3 patients.

Systemic Features: 

The phenotype is variable, likely depending upon the size of the deletion.  Cardiovascular disease, primarily hypertension and large vessel stenosis, are among the most important features.  The elastin arteriopathy lead to thickened arterial walls with peripheral pulmonary stenosis and supravalvular aortic stenosis.  The facies is considered unique with bitemporal narrowing, a wide mouth, full lips, malocclusion, small jaw, and prominent earlobes.  The teeth are small and widely spaced.  Connective tissue abnormalities include joint hyperextensibility, hernias, lax skin, hypotonia, and bowel/bladder diverticulae.  Small birth size is common and infants often fail to thrive but at puberty patients can experience a growth spurt.  Ultimate height in adults is usually in the third centile.

Vocal cord anomalies and paralysis can result in a hoarse voice.  A sensorineural hearing loss is common among adults but hyperacusis is often present in young children.

Hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria are common and some (10%) have hypothyroidism.

Most individuals have some cognition difficulties and delays but normal intelligence has also been reported.  Patient personalities consist of anxiety, attention deficit disorder, marked friendliness and a high level of empathy.  Visiospatial construction is often impaired.  Most adults are unable to live independently.

Genetics

This is a deletion syndrome but included in this database because the major features are due to the loss of a single gene (ELN).  The deletion segment consists of 1.4-1.8 Mb at 7q11.23 containing as many as 28 genes.   Most cases occur sporadically but parent-child transmission and affected siblings have been reported.  The recurrence risk is low.

Increased tortuosity of the retinal arterioles is also a feature of Fabry disease (301500) and of a condition known as isolated retinal arteriolar tortuosity (611773, 180000).

Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Feeding issues should be addressed early in infants who fail to thrive.  Early intervention with speech and physical therapy plus special education can be helpful.  Psychological evaluations may help in managing behavioral issues.

Hypertension can often be managed medically but surgery may be required for vascular stenoses.   Hypercalcemia and hypothyroidism often respond to medical therapy. Strabismus, vessel narrowing, and valvular malfunctions can be treated surgically.

References
Article Title: 

The iris in Williams syndrome

Holmstrom G, Almond G, Temple K, Taylor D, Baraitser M. The iris in Williams syndrome. Arch Dis Child. 1990 Sep;65(9):987-9.

PubMed ID: 
2221973

Ocular findings of Williams' syndrome

Hotta Y, Kishishita H, Wakita M, Inagaki Y, Momose T, Kato K. Ocular findings of Williams' syndrome. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1990 Aug-Sep;79(8-9):869-70.

PubMed ID: 
2239289

Peroxisome Biogenesis Disorder 3B (Infantile Refsum Disease)

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

This peroxisomal disorder presents in the first year of life with both systemic and ocular features.  Night blindness is the major ocular feature and at least some have optic atrophy similar to the adult form.  Nystagmus may be present.  Reduction or absence of rod responses on ERG can be used in young children to document the retinopathy. Blindness and deafness commonly occur in childhood.

Systemic Features: 

This disorder is classified as a peroxisomal biogenesis disorder (PBD) associated with the breakdown of phytanic acid.  Ataxia and features of motor neuron disease are evident early.  Hepatomegaly and jaundice may also be an early diagnostic feature as bile acid metabolism is defective.  Infant hypotonia is often seen.  Nonspecific facial dysmorphism has been reported as a feature. The teeth are abnormally large and often have yellowish discoloration.  Postural unsteadiness is evident when patients begin walking.  Diagnosis can be suspected from elevated serum phytanic and pipecolic acid (in 20% of patients) or by demonstration of decreased phytanic acid oxidation in cultured fibroblasts.  Other biochemical abnormalities such as hypocholesterolemia and elevated very long chain fatty acids and trihydroxycholestanoic acid are usually present.  Anosmia and mental retardation are nearly universal features.  Early mortality in infancy or childhood is common although some survive into the 2nd and 3rd decades.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive peroxisomal biogenesis disorder (PBD) resulting from mutations in a number of PEX genes (PEX1, PEX2, PEX3, PEX12, PEX26).  It shares many features with other PBDs including those formerly called Zellweger syndrome (214100), rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (215100), and neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy (601539).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment is known.

References
Article Title: 

Mannosidosis, Alpha B

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Many (probably most) patients have lens opacities and some have corneal opacities as well.  Nystagmus and strabismus have been described.  Pigmentary changes of a mottled nature can be present in the posterior pole and may be associated with retinal vessel attenuation and diminished ERG responses.  Retinal thinning can be demonstrated.  A mixture of hypo- and hyperautofluorescence is often visible.  Mild optic atrophy has been seen.  There is evidence for progressive visual loss, even late in life.  Eyebrows appear thick.    

Systemic Features: 

Mannosidosis is a highly variable multisystem disorder.  Onset may be in infancy but in other patients symptoms appear later in the first decade.  Progression of disease is more rapid in individuals with early onset (type 3) with rapid mental, motor deterioration and early death.  The characteristic coarse facial features usually are evident later in milder cases (types 1 and 2) that have mild or moderate intellectual disabilities.  Regardless, mannosidosis is relentlessly progressive with mental deterioration and motor disabilities.  Ataxia is a common feature.  Dental anomalies (diastema), large ears, macroglossia, joint stiffness,, hepatosplenomegaly, enlarged head circumference, hearing loss (sensorineural), increased susceptibility to infections, dysarthria, and spondylolysis may be present.

Genetics

Alpha-mannosidoosis is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from mutations in the MAN2B1 gene (19p13.2).  There is another form of mannosidosis known as beta A  (248510) caused by mutations in MANBA but ocular features have not been reported.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Prompt treatment for infections is required and prophylactic vaccinations are indicated.  All individuals should be seen annually and assistive devices such as wheel chairs and hearing aids prescribed when needed.

References
Article Title: 

Retinal and optic nerve degeneration in α-mannosidosis

Matlach J, Zindel T, Amraoui Y, Arash-Kaps L, Hennermann JB, Pitz S. Retinal and optic nerve degeneration in a-mannosidosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2018 Jun 1;13(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s13023-018-0829-z.

PubMed ID: 
29859105

Ocular findings in mannosidosis

Arbisser AI, Murphree AL, Garcia CA, Howell RR. Ocular findings in mannosidosis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1976 Sep;82(3):465-71. PubMed PMID: 961797.

PubMed ID: 
961797

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