vermal hypoplasia

Vici Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Congenital cataracts, both unilateral and bilateral are common.  The fundus appears hypopigmented. Nystagmus, optic neuropathy, and mild ptosis have been reported.  Nothing is known regarding acuity. 

Systemic Features: 

Infants at birth have striking hypotonia with a weak cry and feeding difficulties.  Dysmorphic features such as micrognathia, microcephaly, low-set ears, some degree of generalized hypopigmentation (hair and skin), and a broad nose with a long philtrum may be present. The face may appear triangular.  Cleft lip and palate may be present.  Evidence of cardiac dysfunction may also be present early with both dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy reported.  Hearing loss has been reported in some individuals.  Recurrent infections are common and immunologic studies have revealed, in some patients, granulocytopenia, low T cell counts (primarily T4+ cells), thymic dysplasia, and low levels of IgG.  Seizures may occur.  Liver dysfunction has been variably reported.

Neurological and brain evaluations have reported agenesis of the corpus callosum, defects in the septum pellucidum, and hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis along with pontocerebellar hypoplasia.  Psychomotor retardation is severe in most individuals along with general growth retardation.

Histologic studies of skeletal muscle fibers have shown considerable variation in fiber size, centralized nuclei, fucsinophilic inclusions, and enlarged abnormal mitochondria.  Other central nervous system abnormalities include in some individuals a paucity of white matter, schizencephaly, neuronal heterotopias, and enlargement of the ventricles.

The cumulative effects of these multiorgan abnormalities lead to death within the first year or two of life, generally of heart failure or sepsis. 

Genetics

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the EPG5 gene (18q12.3) have been associated with this condition.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Vici syndrome: a

Byrne S, Dionisi-Vici C, Smith L, Gautel M, Jungbluth H. Vici syndrome: a
review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2016 Feb 29;11(1):

PubMed ID: 
4772338

Recessive mutations in EPG5 cause Vici syndrome, a multisystem disorder with defective autophagy

Cullup T, Kho AL, Dionisi-Vici C, Brandmeier B, Smith F, Urry Z, Simpson MA, Yau S, Bertini E, McClelland V, Al-Owain M, Koelker S, Koerner C, Hoffmann GF, Wijburg FA, ten Hoedt AE, Rogers RC, Manchester D, Miyata R, Hayashi M, Said E, Soler D, Kroisel PM, Windpassinger C, Filloux FM, Al-Kaabi S, Hertecant J, Del Campo M, Buk S, Bodi I, Goebel HH, Sewry CA, Abbs S, Mohammed S, Josifova D, Gautel M, Jungbluth H. Recessive mutations in EPG5 cause Vici syndrome, a multisystem disorder with defective autophagy. Nat Genet. 2013 Jan;45(1):83-7.

PubMed ID: 
23222957

Orofaciodigital Syndrome, Type VI

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Hypertelorism and epicanthal folds have been described.  Some patients have nystagmus and strabismus. Ocular apraxia and difficulties in smooth visual pursuit may be present.   

Systemic Features: 

Polydactyly of the hands is a common feature.  The central metacarpal is often Y-shaped leading to ‘central polydactyly’.  The large toes may be bifid.  Cognitive deficits are common and some patients have been considered mentally retarded.  The ears are low-set and rotated posteriorly.  Some patients have a conductive hearing loss.  Oral anomalies may include a lobed tongue, lingual and sublingual hemartomas, micrognathia, clefting, and multiple buccoalveolar frenula.  Congenital heart anomalies, micropenis, and cryptorchidism have been reported.  Tachypnea and tachycardia have been noted.  Some patients have some degree of skeletal dysplasia and many individuals are short in stature.

The presence of cerebellar abnormalities such as hypoplasia (including absence) of the vermis may help to distinguish type VI from other forms of OFDS.  Hypothalamic dysfunction may be responsible for poor temperature regulation (hyperthermia). The ‘molar tooth sign’ seen on brain MRIs in Joubert syndrome (213300) is also present in OFDS VI. 

Genetics

This is a rare condition with limited family information.  Parents in one family were consanguineous, and multiple affected sibs in other families suggest this may be an autosomal recessive condition.  Homozygous mutations in TMEM216 have been found. Other patients have mutations in C5orf42.

Many of the clinical features in OFDS VI are also found among individuals with Joubert (213300) and Meckel (249000) syndromes that also sometimes have mutations in the TMEM216 and C5orf42 genes.  Some consider all of these conditions to be members of a group of overlapping disorders called ciliopathies or ciliary dyskinesias.   

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No specific treatment is available for this syndrome but individual signs and symptoms may need treatment.

References
Article Title: 

C5orf42 is the major gene responsible for OFD syndrome type VI

Lopez E, Thauvin-Robinet C, Reversade B, Khartoufi NE, Devisme L, Holder M, Ansart-Franquet H, Avila M, Lacombe D, Kleinfinger P, Kaori I, Takanashi JI, Le Merrer M, Martinovic J, No?'l C, Shboul M, Ho L, G?oven Y, Razavi F, Burglen L, Gigot N, Darmency-Stamboul V, Thevenon J, Aral B, Kayserili H, Huet F, Lyonnet S, Le Caignec C, Franco B, Rivi?(r)re JB, Faivre L, Atti?(c)-Bitach T. C5orf42 is the major gene responsible for OFD syndrome type VI. Hum Genet. 2013 Nov 1. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID: 
24178751

Mutations in TMEM216 perturb ciliogenesis and cause Joubert, Meckel and related syndromes

Valente EM, Logan CV, Mougou-Zerelli S, Lee JH, Silhavy JL, Brancati F, Iannicelli M, Travaglini L, Romani S, Illi B, Adams M, Szymanska K, Mazzotta A, Lee JE, Tolentino JC, Swistun D, Salpietro CD, Fede C, Gabriel S, Russ C, Cibulskis K, Sougnez C, Hildebrandt F, Otto EA, Held S, Diplas BH, Davis EE, Mikula M, Strom CM, Ben-Zeev B, Lev D, Sagie TL, Michelson M, Yaron Y, Krause A, Boltshauser E, Elkhartoufi N, Roume J, Shalev S, Munnich A, Saunier S, Inglehearn C, Saad A, Alkindy A, Thomas S, Vekemans M, Dallapiccola B, Katsanis N, Johnson CA, Atti?(c)-Bitach T, Gleeson JG. Mutations in TMEM216 perturb ciliogenesis and cause Joubert, Meckel and related syndromes. Nat Genet. 2010 Jul;42(7):619-25.

PubMed ID: 
20512146
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