immunodeficiency

Progeroid Short Stature with Pigmented Nevi

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The presence of cataract has been reported.   One patient with keratoconus, endothelial dystrophy, and chronic conjunctivitis required a corneal transplant for a perforated ulcer.  Another individual with endothelial dystrophy, keratoconus, dry eye syndrome, and conjunctivitis developed OCT evidence of progressive retinal thickening and folding of inner retinal layers.  Retinal electrodiagnostic tests were normal.   Few patients have had complete ocular examinations, however.

Systemic Features: 

Short stature beginning in utero is characteristic and general growth parameters are usually in the third percentile.  The appearance of premature aging is suggested by a pinched bird-like facies and lack of facial subcutaneous fat.  Striking cutaneous pigmented nevi are present and may increase in number throughout life.  Joint mobility is limited to about half of normal.  The voice is often characteristically high-pitched.  Hypodontia and irregular dentition are often seen.

There may be an immunodeficiency as reflected by susceptibility to recurrent infections due to subnormal numbers of B and T cells.  Cognitive abilities are subnormal and some decline in adulthood has been reported.  Some individuals have been considered mentally retarded.  Agitation, touch hypersensitivity, depression, panic attacks, and severe insomnia may be present.  Sensorineural hearing loss is common.  Males may have hypospadias while females experience premature puberty and premature menopause.

Genetics

Consanguinity among some parents suggests autosomal recessive inheritance but no locus or mutation have been identified.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatnent has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

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

Kabuki Syndrome 1

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The facial features and specifically the periocular anomalies are diagnostic and responsible for the eponymic designation (resembling the make-up of actors of a Japanese theatrical form known as Kabuki). The lid fissures are long and narrow and the lateral third of the lower lids are often everted.  The eyebrows are highly-arched and broad with some sparsity especially in the lateral portion.  The eyelashes are thick and ptosis is often noted. Strabismus may be present.  Blue sclerae have been reported.

Some patients may have extreme microphthalmia.

Systemic Features: 

Post-natal growth delay and short stature are present as a result of anomalies in the vertebrae often with secondary scoliosis.  Persistence of the fetal fingertip pads is common. Hypotonia and joint hypermobility have been noted and some degree of intellectual disability is common.  Seizures have been reported but these are not common. Cleft lip and palate are seen in about a third of patients and the palate is highly arched in about 75%.  The teeth are small, frequently malformed and widely spaced.  Feeding difficulties are common.  Anal anomalies such as imperforate anus, anovestibular fistulas, and an anteriorly placed opening may be present, especially in females.  A small penis, hypospadias, and cryptorchidism are common in males.

An ill-defined immune deficit seems to be a common feature as evident by susceptibility to infections, primarily otitis media in infants and later recurrent sinopulmonary infections.   The majority of patients have hypogammaglobulinemia with a variable pattern of antibody abnormalities resembling common variable immune deficiency and especially low levels of serum IgA.  

Hearing loss is seen in nearly half of patients, some of which is no doubt due to recurrent otitis media but CT radiography has demonstrated dysplastic morphology of inner ear structures and the petrous bone.  The ears are large and cupped and preauricular pits may be present as well.

Biliary atresia and a variety of morphological anomalies of the kidney have been reported.  Renal failure can occur.  Perhaps as many as 58% of patients have congenital heart defects, mostly septal in location. 

Genetics

Heterozygous mutations in KMT2D (12q13.12) (also called MLL2) are responsible for Kabuki syndrome 1 but parental transmission to offspring is rare and the majority of patients occur sporadically.  There is also an X-linked form (Kabuki 2) caused by mutations in KDM5A (Xp11.3).  Insufficient clinical data regarding the X-linked phenotype so far has precluded the ability to distinguish the two disorders without genotyping.

Residual genetic heterogeneity remains, however, as a substantial proportion of patients do not have mutations in the two mutant genes known.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal dominant
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

There is no general treatment for this condition.  Management guidelines are available (Management of Kabuki Syndrome).

References
Article Title: 

MLL2 and KDM6A mutations in patients with Kabuki syndrome

Miyake N, Koshimizu E, Okamoto N, Mizuno S, Ogata T, Nagai T, Kosho T, Ohashi H, Kato M, Sasaki G, Mabe H, Watanabe Y, Yoshino M, Matsuishi T, Takanashi J, Shotelersuk V, Tekin M, Ochi N, Kubota M, Ito N, Ihara K, Hara T, Tonoki H, Ohta T, Saito K, Matsuo M, Urano M, Enokizono T, Sato A, Tanaka H, Ogawa A, Fujita T, Hiraki Y, Kitanaka S, Matsubara Y, Makita T, Taguri M, Nakashima M, Tsurusaki Y, Saitsu H, Yoshiura K, Matsumoto N, Niikawa N. MLL2 and KDM6A mutations in patients with Kabuki syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2013 Sep;161A(9):2234-43. 

PubMed ID: 
23913813

Pigmentary Retinopathy with Congenital Sideroblastic Anemia

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular phenotype has not been fully described, but several patients with a pigmentary retinopathy resembling retinitis pigmentosa have been reported.

Systemic Features: 

Patients present at a median age of two months with typically severe microcytic sideroblastic anemia. Median hemoglobin levels are 7.1 g/dl.  Lymphopenia and panhypogammaglobulinemia are usually present and many children have periodic febrile illnesses.  The number of CD19+ B cells is reduced.  Aminoaciduria, hypercalcinuria, and nephrocalcinosis have been observed.  Cardiomyopathy has been seen in several patients and may be responsible for the early demise.  Developmental delays may be severe with variable neurodegeneration features such as seizures, cerebellar symptoms, and sensorineural hearing loss.  Achievement of milestones is generally delayed.  Median survival is 4 years although one patient has lived to the age of 19 years.

Genetics

Homozygous mutations in TRNT1 (3p25.1) are responsible for this disorder.

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in one patient reversed the hematologic and immunologic anomalies although retinitis subsequently developed.

References
Article Title: 

Mutations in TRNT1 cause congenital sideroblastic anemia with immunodeficiency, fevers, and developmental delay (SIFD)

Chakraborty PK, Schmitz-Abe K, Kennedy EK, Mamady H, Naas T, Durie D, Campagna DR, Lau A, Sendamarai AK, Wiseman DH, May A, Jolles S, Connor P, Powell C, Heeney MM, Giardina PJ, Klaassen RJ, Kannengiesser C, Thuret I, Thompson AA, Marques L, Hughes S, Bonney DK, Bottomley SS, Wynn RF, Laxer RM, Minniti CP, Moppett J, Bordon V, Geraghty M, Joyce PB, Markianos K, Rudner AD, Holcik M, Fleming MD. Mutations in TRNT1 cause congenital sideroblastic anemia with immunodeficiency, fevers, and developmental delay (SIFD). Blood. 2014 Oct 30;124(18):2867-71.

PubMed ID: 
25193871

A novel syndrome of congenital sideroblastic anemia, B-cell immunodeficiency, periodic fevers, and developmental delay (SIFD)

Wiseman DH, May A, Jolles S, Connor P, Powell C, Heeney MM, Giardina PJ, Klaassen RJ, Chakraborty P, Geraghty MT, Major-Cook N, Kannengiesser C, Thuret I, Thompson AA, Marques L, Hughes S, Bonney DK, Bottomley SS, Fleming MD, Wynn RF. A novel syndrome of congenital sideroblastic anemia, B-cell immunodeficiency, periodic fevers, and developmental delay (SIFD). Blood. 2013 Jul 4;122(1):112-23.

PubMed ID: 
23553769

Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson Syndrome

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

Little is known about the ocular signs in this rare disorder.  As many patients have systemic features of dyskeratosis congenita, however, it is possible that some of the ocular findings such as conjunctival and corneal scarring and lid margin distortion might be similar.  Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, though, is a more severe disease and many infants may die before the mucocutaneous manifestations appear.  At least one patient has had an exudative retinopathy similar to that seen in Revesz syndrome (268130).  Epiphora and a preretinal hemorrhage have also been reported.

Systemic Features: 

Features of pancytopenia usually appear after 5 months of age while growth retardation and microcephaly are evident soon after birth.  The marrow may show progression to myelodysplasia.  Birth weight is usually low.  Truncal ataxia and axial hypotonia have been reported and MRI imaging reveals cerebellar hypoplasia.  Global developmental delay is a common feature and a few patients have seizures.  Susceptibility to infection has been noted but the basis for an immunodeficiency remains elusive.  Some patients have signs of dyskeratosis congenita such as sparse hair, nail dysplasia, and a reticular pattern of skin pigmentation.

Genetics

This is an X-linked disorder resulting from mutations in the DKC1 gene (Xq28) active in telomere maintainence.  As expected, the vast majority of affected individuals are male but at least 3 females have been reported. The same gene is also mutated in the X-linked form of dyskeratosis congenita (305000) suggesting that the two are allelic or that both are the same disease.  There are clear clinical differences, however, as severe developmental delay, immunodeficiency, cerebellar hypoplasia, and microcephaly are generally not present in the latter disorder.

There is evidence for telomere length variations in this syndrome and in dyskeratosis congenita.  Homozygous mutations in RTEL1 (regulator of telomere length helicase 1) (20q13.33) have also been found in these conditions.

Pedigree: 
X-linked recessive, carrier mother
X-linked recessive, father affected
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No effective treatment has been reported.

References
Article Title: 

Ataxia-Telangiectasia

Clinical Characteristics
Ocular Features: 

The ocular manifestations are striking although of little clinical consequence.  The conjunctivae have prominent telangiectases which usually develop between 3 and 5 years of age.  These apparently do not occur intraocularly.    Oculomotor apraxia is often an earlier sign consisting of difficulty in initiation of smooth pursuit movements which patients may modify by head motion in the direction of attempted gaze.  This aspect can be helpful in diagnosis of AT in young children with cerebellar ataxia. 

Systemic Features: 

Telangiectases are often found in the pinnae, on the cheeks, and on the forearms, usually after the onset of neurological signs.  However, this is also a disorder with multiple systemic signs, the most serious of which are unusual sensitivity to ionizing radiation, excessive chromosomal breakage, a deficiency in the immune system, mild cognitive impairment, and increased risk of malignancies.  Lymphomas, often of B-cell origin, and leukemia, usually of T-cell origin, are the most common malignancies but there is a significantly increased risk of breast cancer as well. Serum IgG2 and IgA levels are often reduced and sinopulmonary infections are common.  Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels are usually increased.  The ataxia is progressive and often begins as truncal unsteadiness with limbs involved later.  It is often accompanied by choreoathetosis and/or dystonia which may result in severe disability by the second decade.  Life span is shortened and many patients succumb to their disease by the 3rd and 4th decades. 

In some famiies with confirmed mutations in ATM the disorder presents with signs of primary torsion dystonia and myoclonus-dystonia.  These signs may resemble an apparent autosomal dominant pattern with parent-child transmission.  It is unclear whether these families represent a variant of AT or a unique disorder.  The latter is suggested by an earlier onset of signs, the lack of cerebellar atrophy,  and the absence of ataxia and ocular telangiectases on initial presentation.  The risk of malignancies in these famiies is high.

Some of these signs have been reported in milder form among heterozygous carriers as well.  The most serious is an increased risk of malignancy, perhaps as much as 6.1 times that of non-carriers.  This combined with the inherent sensitivity to ionizing radiation has led to the suggestion that X-rays should be used with caution, especially when considering mammograms among female relatives.

 

Genetics

This is an autosomal recessive disorder as a result of mutations in the ATM gene located at 11q22-q23.  Affected offspring of consanguineous matings are often homozygous for this mutation whereas those from unrelated parents are usually compound heterozygotes.  There is some evidence of genetic heterogeneity based on both clinical and DNA studies (AT variants).

Other conditions with oculomotor apraxia are: ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 1 (208920), ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 2 (602600), and Cogan type oculomotor apraxia (257550) which lacks other neurologic signs. Oculomotor apraxia may be the presenting sign in Gaucher disease (230800, 230900, 231000).

Pedigree: 
Autosomal recessive
Treatment
Treatment Options: 

No treatment is known for the neurologic manifestations.  However, patients and first degree relatives should be monitored for malignancies.  Childhood vaccinations may lead to widespread viral dissemination as a consequence of the immune defect.

References
Article Title: 

Ataxia telangiectasia: a review

Rothblum-Oviatt C, Wright J, Lefton-Greif MA, McGrath-Morrow SA, Crawford TO, Lederman HM. Ataxia telangiectasia: a review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2016 Nov 25;11(1):159. Review.

PubMed ID: 
27884168

Cognitive Phenotype in Ataxia-Telangiectasia

Hoche F, Frankenberg E, Rambow J, Theis M, Harding JA, Qirshi M, Seidel K, Barbosa-Sicard E, Porto L, Schmahmann JD, Kieslich M. Cognitive Phenotype in Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Pediatr Neurol. 2014 May 5.

PubMed ID: 
25037873

Variant ataxia-telangiectasia presenting as primary-appearing dystonia in Canadian Mennonites

Saunders-Pullman R, Raymond D, Stoessl AJ, Hobson D, Nakamura T, Pullman S, Lefton D, Okun MS, Uitti R, Sachdev R, Stanley K, San Luciano M, Hagenah J, Gatti R, Ozelius LJ, Bressman SB. Variant ataxia-telangiectasia presenting as primary-appearing dystonia in Canadian Mennonites. Neurology. 2012 Feb 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 22345219.

PubMed ID: 
22345219
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