Marshall Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics

Ocular Features:

Myopia is a common feature. The globes appear prominent with evident hypertelorism, perhaps in part due to shallow orbits. The vitreous is abnormally fluid. The beaded vitreous pattern seen in Stickler syndrome type II [1] (604841 [2]), with which Marshall syndrome is sometimes confused, is not seen in Marshall syndrome, nor is the same frequency of retinal detachments. Congenital or juvenile cataracts were present in Marshall’s original family.

Systemic Features:

The midface is flat with some features of the Pierre-Robin phenotype. The nasal root is flat and the nares anteverted. Patients tend to be short in stature and joints are often stiff. Small iliac wings and a thickened calvarium can be seen radiologically together with other bone deformities. Abnormal frontal sinuses and intracranial calcifications have also been reported. Sensorineural hearing loss may be noted during the first year of life with age-related progression. Osteoarthritis of the knees and lumbosacral spine begins in the 4^th and 5^th decades. Features of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia such as hypohidrosis and hypotrichosis are present in some patients. Individuals may have linear areas of hyperpigmentation on the trunk and limbs.

Genetics

The syndromal status of Marshall syndrome as a unique entity remains uncertain inasmuch as there are many overlapping clinical features with Stickler syndrome type II [1] (604841 [2]) and both result from mutations in the COL11A1 [3] gene (1p21). Autosomal dominant inheritance is common to both although autosomal recessive inheritance has been proposed for a few families with presumed Marshall syndrome. Stickler syndrome type II [1] (604841 [2]) and Marshall syndrome may be allelic or even the same disorder.

Treatment

Treatment Options:

No treatment is available for this disorder beyond cataract removal. Patients need to be monitored for retinal breaks and detachments.

References

Article Title:

Marshall syndrome: Further evidence of a distinct phenotypic entity and report of new findings [4]

Khalifa O, Imtiaz F, Ramzan K, Allam R, Hemidan AA, Faqeih E, Abuharb G, Balobaid A, Sakati N, Owain MA. Marshall syndrome: Further evidence of a distinct phenotypic entity and report of new findings. Am J Med Genet A. 2014 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print].

PubMed ID:

25073711

A pigmentary skin defect is a new finding in Marshall-Smith syndrome [5]

Passalacqua C, Melo C, Mart??n LM, Rojas F, Sanz P, Taucher SC, Aranibar L. A pigmentary skin defect is a new finding in Marshall-Smith syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2011 Jul 7. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.34076. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 21739579.

PubMed ID:

21739579

Marshall syndrome associated with a splicing defect at the COL11A1 locus [6]

Griffith AJ, Sprunger LK, Sirko-Osadsa DA, Tiller GE, Meisler MH, Warman ML. Marshall syndrome associated with a splicing defect at the COL11A1 locus. Am J Hum Genet. 1998 Apr;62(4):816-23.

PubMed ID:

9529347

The Marshall and Stickler syndromes: objective rejection of lumping [7]

Aym?(c) S, Preus M. The Marshall and Stickler syndromes: objective rejection of lumping. J Med Genet. 1984 Feb;21(1):34-8.

PubMed ID:

6694183