2q37 Deletion syndrome confirmed by high-resolution cytogenetic analysis

Chromosome 2q37 deletion syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder characterized by mild to moderate developmental delay, brachydactyly of the third to fifth digits or toes, short stature, obesity, hypotonia, a characteristic facial appearance, and autism spectrum disorder. Here, we report on a patient with 2q37 deletion presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP). Congenital heart malformations have been noted in up to 20% of patients with 2q37 deletions. However, DCMP has not been reported in 2q37 deletion patients previously. The patient exhibited the characteristic facial appearance (a flat nasal bridge, deep-set eyes, arched eyebrows, and a thin upper lip), developmental delay, mild mental retardation, peripheral nerve palsy, and Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO)-like phenotypes (short stature and brachydactyly). Conventional chromosomal analysis results were normal; however, microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization revealed terminal deletion at 2q37.1q37.3. In addition, the patient was confirmed to have partial growth hormone (GH) deficiency and had shown a significant increase in growth rate after substitutive GH therapy. Chromosome 2q37 deletion syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with AHO features, especially in the presence of facial dysmorphism. When patients are suspected of having a 2q37 deletion, high-resolution cytogenetic analysis is recommended.

Subtelomeric region of chromosome 2 in patients with autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorders are severe psychiatric diseases commonly identified in the population. They are diagnosed during childhood and the etiology has been much debated due to their variations and complexity. Onset is early and characterized as communication and social interaction disorders and as repetitive and stereotyped behavior. Austistic disorders may occur together with various genetic and chromosomal diseases. Several chromosomal regions and genes are implicated in the predisposition for these diseases, in particular those with products expressed in the central nervous system. There are reports of autistic and mentally handicapped patients with submicroscopic subtelomeric alterations at the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 2. Additionally, there is evidence that alterations at 2q37 cause brain malformations that result in the autistic phenotype. These alterations are very small and not identified by routine cytogenetics to which patients are normally submitted, which may result in an underestimation of the diagnosis. This study aimed at evaluating the 2q37 region in patients with autistic disorders. Twenty patients were studied utilizing the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique with a specific probe for 2q37. All of them were also studied by the GTC banding technique to identify possible chromosomal diseases. No alterations were observed in the 2q37 region of the individuals studied, and no patient presented chromosomal diseases. This result may be due to the small sample size analyzed. The introduction of routine analysis of the 2q37 region for patients with autistic disorders depends on further studies.

A Case of Partial Long Arm Deletion in Chromosome 2 with Multiple Anomalies

Partial long arm deletion in chromosome 2 is a rare disease in world-wide. The disease is characterized by multiple anomalies of craniofacial, extremities, cardiovascular system, hypotonia and mental retardation. We report a premature infant with long arm deletion of chromosome 2 who was diagnosed by clinical features and chromosomal analysis [46, XX, del(2)(q36-ter)]. She had multiple anomalies including microcephaly, frontal bossing, micropthalmia, low set ear, short webbed neck, horseshoe kidney, ventriculomegaly and cardiac anomalies of patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary hypertension. A brief review of literature is included.

Unbalanced Translocations of Chromosome 2 and Chromosome 20 in a Two-Generation Family

An unbalanced translocation is frequently the result of inheritance of an unbalanced haploid set from a parent with a balanced translocation. Families in which one parent is a balanced translocation carrier fall into the following classes : Those in which none of the possible abnormal offsprings is viable; Those in which one type of offspring, usually the one with the smaller deletion, is born alive; Those in which two types of abnormal offspring are viable. We report a neonate whose karyotype was 46,XX,der(2)t(2;7)(q21;p21.2),der(20)t(2;20)(q21;p13). She was small for her gestational age and had multiple anomalies such as exophthalmos, corneal opacity, short neck, tongue tie, clinodactyly, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and ventriculomegaly. Moreover, her mother's karyotype was 46,XX,der(2)t(2;7)(q21;p21.2),del(16)(q22.1),der(20)t(2;20)(q21;p13) but her father had normal karyotype. The same derivative chrosomes were found between mother and her infant, except for del(16)(q22.1) in her mother and these same unbalanced translocations in a two-generation family are extremely rare.