low-set ears

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

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

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: 

Microphthalmia, Syndromic 3

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Microphthalmia or clinical anophthalmia is the major ocular malformation in this disorder but optic nerve hypoplasia or even aplasia may also be present.  Colobomas and congenital cataracts may be seen.

Systemic Features: 

Esophageal atresia and sometimes tracheoesophageal fistula sometimes coexist. The ears can be low-set and malformed and sensorineural hearing loss is often present.  Facial palsy has been reported.  The penis may be small and combined with cryptorchidism while physical growth retardation is common.  Other less common malformations include cleft palate, vertebral anomalies, cardiac anomalies, body asymmetry, and microcephaly.  A few patients have had radiologically evident CNS malformations such as dilated ventricles, hippocampal hypoplasia, abnormal white matter, and holoprosencephaly.  However, intellectual development and function have been normal in other patients.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant disorder secondary to heterozygous mutations in the SOX2 gene (3q26.33).  Chromosomal aberrations involving this region of chromosome 3 have also been found.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Depending upon the severity of malformations, life expectancy can be normal but some patients have died in the neonatal period.  Certain defects such as those of the heart, palate and esophagus can be surgically repaired.  Hearing device can be helpful but no treatment is available for the eyeball malformations.

References
Article Title: 

Microphthalmia, Syndromic 9

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Both microphthalmia and clinical anophthalmia have been described in this syndrome.  However, autopsy has shown true anophthalmia in a few cases who were stillborn or died in the neonatal period.  At least one eye can be cystic. The optic nerves are often hypoplastic and may be absent.  High, upward-arching eyebrows may be seen.

Systemic Features: 

An early manifestation of this disorder is neonatal pulmonary distress.  The lungs are usually hypoplastic or malformed. Cardiac malformations such as patent ductus arteriosus, septal and valvular defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and single ventricles are often present.  Diaphragmatic hernias or defects are common but hiatal hernias and frank eventration of abdominal contents have also been reported.  Renal anomalies and intrauterine growth retardation have been noted.         

Some infants have micrognathia, low-set ears, a broad nasal bridge, brachycephaly, and midline clefts of the palate.  Cerebral malformations are seldom present.

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in the STRA6 gene (15q24.1) have been found in a few cases which suggests autosomal recessive inheritance.  Parental consanguinity has been reported in some families.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is directed at the repair of the organ defects in selected cases that have survival potential.   Survival rates are poor but those less severely affected may live for a decade.

References
Article Title: 

The PDAC syndrome (pulmonary hypoplasia/agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia/eventration, anophthalmia/microphthalmia, and cardiac defect) (Spear syndrome, Matthew-Wood syndrome): report of eight cases including a living child and further evidence for autosomal

Chitayat D, Sroka H, Keating S, Colby RS, Ryan G, Toi A, Blaser S, Viero S, Devisme L, Boute-B?(c)n?(c)jean O, Manouvrier-Hanu S, Mortier G, Loeys B, Rauch A, Bitoun P. The PDAC syndrome (pulmonary hypoplasia/agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia/eventration, anophthalmia/microphthalmia, and cardiac defect) (Spear syndrome, Matthew-Wood syndrome): report of eight cases including a living child and further evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance. Am J Med Genet A. 2007 Jun 15;143A(12):1268-81.

PubMed ID: 
17506106

Mutations in STRA6 cause a broad spectrum of malformations including anophthalmia, congenital heart defects, diaphragmatic hernia, alveolar capillary dysplasia, lung hypoplasia, and mental retardation

Pasutto F, Sticht H, Hammersen G, Gillessen-Kaesbach G, Fitzpatrick DR, N?ornberg G, Brasch F, Schirmer-Zimmermann H, Tolmie JL, Chitayat D, Houge G, Fern?degndez-Mart??nez L, Keating S, Mortier G, Hennekam RC, von der Wense A, Slavotinek A, Meinecke P, Bitoun P, Becker C, N?ornberg P, Reis A, Rauch A. Mutations in STRA6 cause a broad spectrum of malformations including anophthalmia, congenital heart defects, diaphragmatic hernia, alveolar capillary dysplasia, lung hypoplasia, and mental retardation. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Mar;80(3):550-60.

PubMed ID: 
17273977

Adrenoleukodystrophy, Autosomal

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

This early onset and rapidly progressive form of adrenoleukodystrophy is rare.  The early onset and rapidly fatal course of the disease has limited full delineation of the ocular features.  The most striking is the presence of 'leopard-spots' pigmentary changes in the retina.  Polar cataracts, strabismus, and epicanthal folds have also been reported. 

Systemic Features: 

Onset of symptoms occurs shortly after birth often with seizures and evidence of psychomotor deficits.  Rapid neurologic deterioration begins at about 1 year of age with death usually by the age of 3 years.  Hyperpigmentation of the skin may be apparent a few months after birth.  Opisthotonus has been observed.  The ears may be low-set, the palate is highly arched, and the nostrils anteverted.  Frontal bossing may be present.  Serum pipecolic acid and very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) can be markedly elevated.  Cystic changes in the kidneys have been reported. 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive peroxismal disorder resulting from homozygous mutations in receptor gene mutations such as PEX1, PEX5, PEX13, and PEX26.

There is also an X-linked recessive adrenoleukodystrophy (300100) sometimes called ALD but it lacks some of the morphologic features and is somewhat less aggressive. 

Neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy along with infantile Refsum disease (266510, 601539) and Zellweger syndrome (214100) are now classified as Zellweger spectrum or perioxismal biogenesis disorders.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Treatment is mainly supportive for associated health problems. 

References
Article Title: 

Noonan Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Noonan syndrome has prominent anomalies of the periocular structures including downward-slanting lid fissures, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, high upper eyelid crease, and some limitation of ocular mobility most commonly of the levator.  Ptosis and strabismus are present in nearly half of patients. Amblyopia has been found in one-third of patients and almost 10% have nystagmus.  Corneal nerves are prominent and a substantial number of individuals have optic nerve abnormalities including drusen, hypoplasia, colobomas and myelinated nerves.  Evidence of an anterior stromal dystrophy, cataracts, or panuveitis is seen in a minority of patients.  About 95% of patients have some ocular abnormalities.

Systemic Features: 

Patients are short in stature.  Birth weight and length may be normal but lymphedema is often present in newborns.  The neck is usually webbed (pterygium colli) and the ears low-set.  The sternum may be deformed.  Cardiac anomalies such as coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary valve stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and septal defects are present in more than half of patients.  Dysplasia of the pulmonic valve has been reported as well.  Thrombocytopenia and abnormal platelet function with abnormalities of coagulation factors are found in about 50% of cases resulting in easy bruising and prolonged bleeding.  Cryptorchidism is common in males.  Some patients have intellectual disabilities with speech and language problems.  Most have normal intelligence.   

Parents of affected children often have subtle signs of Noonan Syndrome.

Genetics

This is an autosomal dominant disorder that can result from mutations in at least 8 genes.  Nearly half are caused by mutations in the PTPN11 gene (12q24.1) (163950).  Mutations in the SOS1 gene (2p22-p21) cause NS4 (610733) and account for 10-20% of cases, those in the RAF1 gene (3p25) causing NS5 (611553) for about the same proportion, and mutations in the KRAS gene (12p12.1) (NS3; 609942) cause about 1%.  Mutations in BRAF (7q34) causing NS7 (613706), NRAS (1p13.2) responsible for NS6 (613224), and MEK1 genes have also been implicated and it is likely that more mutations will be found.  The phenotype is similar in all individuals but with some variation in the frequency and severity of specific features.  New mutations are common. 

Several families with autosomal recessive inheritance (NS2) (605275) patterns have been reported with biallelic mutations in LZTR1.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no treatment for most of the developmental problems but some patients benefit from special education. Cardiac surgery may be required in some cases to correct the developmental defects.  Bleeding problems can be treated with supplementation of the defective coagulation factor.  Growth hormone therapy can increase the growth velocity.

References
Article Title: 

Autosomal recessive Noonan syndrome associated with biallelic LZTR1 variants

Johnston JJ, van der Smagt JJ, Rosenfeld JA, Pagnamenta AT, Alswaid A, Baker EH, Blair E, Borck G, Brinkmann J, Craigen W, Dung VC, Emrick L, Everman DB, van Gassen KL, Gulsuner S, Harr MH, Jain M, Kuechler A, Leppig KA, McDonald-McGinn DM, Can NTB, Peleg A, Roeder ER, Rogers RC, Sagi-Dain L, Sapp JC, Schaffer AA, Schanze D, Stewart H, Taylor JC, Verbeek NE, Walkiewicz MA, Zackai EH, Zweier C; Members of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Zenker M, Lee B, Biesecker LG. Autosomal recessive Noonan syndrome associated with biallelic LZTR1 variants. Genet Med. 2018 Oct;20(10):1175-1185.

PubMed ID: 
29469822

Update on turner and noonan syndromes

Chacko E, Graber E, Regelmann MO, Wallach E, Costin G, Rapaport R. Update on turner and noonan syndromes. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2012 Dec;41(4):713-34. Epub 2012 Sep 28.

PubMed ID: 
23099266

Baller-Gerold Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular features are a rather minor part of this syndrome and are found in less than a third of patients.  These primarily involve lids and adnexae with telecanthus, downslanting lid fissures, and epicanthal folds.  Some individuals have nystagmus while strabismus, blue sclerae, and ectropion have also been reported.

Systemic Features: 

The cardinal features of this syndrome are craniosynostosis and radial defects.  However, a large number of variable defects such as imperforate or anteriorly placed anus, rectovaginal fistula, absent thumbs, polydactyly, and mental retardation may also be present.  The radius may be completely absent or abnormally formed and occasionally the ulnar bone is involved as well.  Some patients have a conductive hearing loss.

Genetics

This syndrome is caused by a mutation in the RECQL4 gene at 8q24.3 and seems to be an autosomal recessive disorder.  Its syndromal status as a unique syndrome is in some doubt because of considerable phenotypic overlap with other entities such as Roberts (268300) and Saethre-Chotzen (101400) syndromes.  The latter however is caused by a mutation in the TWIST1 gene and the former by mutations in the ESCO2 gene.

The same gene is mutated in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (268400) suggesting allelism of the two disorders.  The phenotype is vastly different in the two disorders however.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is available.

References
Article Title: 

Carpenter Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

A variety of ocular anomalies have been reported in Carpenter syndrome with none being constant or characteristic.  The inner canthi are often spaced widely apart and many have epicanthal folds and a flat nasal bridge.  Other reported abnormalities are nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, corneal malformations including microcornea, corneal opacity, and mild optic atrophy and features of pseudopapilledema.

Systemic Features: 

Premature synostosis involves numerous cranial sutures with the sagittal suture commonly involved causing acrocephaly (tower skull).  Asymmetry of the skull and a 'cloverleaf' deformity are often present.  The polydactyly is preaxial and some degree of syndactyly is common especially in the toes.  The digits are often short and may be missing phalanges.  Some patients are short in stature.  Structural brain defects may be widespread including atrophy of the cortex and cerebellar vermis.  Septal defects in the heart are found in about one-third of patients.  The ears can be low-set and preauricular pits may be seen.  Some but not all patients have obesity and a degree of mental retardation.

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive syndrome caused by a mutation in the RAB23 gene (6p12.1-q12).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment of the ocular defects is necessary in most cases. Craniectomy may be required in cases with severe synostosis.

References
Article Title: 

Carpenter syndrome

Hidestrand P, Vasconez H, Cottrill C. Carpenter syndrome. J Craniofac Surg. 2009 Jan;20(1):254-6.

PubMed ID: 
19165041

RAB23 mutations in Carpenter syndrome imply an unexpected role for hedgehog signaling in cranial-suture development and obesity

Jenkins D, Seelow D, Jehee FS, Perlyn CA, Alonso LG, Bueno DF, Donnai D, Josifova D, Mathijssen IM, Morton JE, Orstavik KH, Sweeney E, Wall SA, Marsh JL, Nurnberg P, Passos-Bueno MR, Wilkie AO. RAB23 mutations in Carpenter syndrome imply an unexpected role for hedgehog signaling in cranial-suture development and obesity. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Jun;80(6):1162-70. Erratum in: Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Nov;81(5):1114. Josifiova, Dragana [corrected to Josifova, Dragana].

PubMed ID: 
17503333

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