Clinical characteristics of X-linked infantile nystagmus in a Chinese family / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To identify the clinical features of a Chinese Han family with X-linked infantile nystagmus. Methods • A Chinese family with X-linked infantile nystagmus was recruited from Department of Ophthalmology in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Peripheral blood from the members of the family was collected and molecular genetic analysis was done. The 5 patients in the family received comprehensive ocular examinations including measurement of visual acuity, degree of anomalous head posture, stereoscopic vision, binocular function, electroretinogram, visual evoked potential, optical coherence tomography, eye movement recording and cycloplegic refraction. Results • A frame-shift mutation (c.823-829delACCCTAC, p.Thr275fs) in the 9th exon of FERM domain containing protein 7 (FRMD7) in the family was found. The similar clinical features of the family included moderate impairment of visual acuity, mild astigmatism, reduced stereoscopic vision, no fusion function, and bidirectional jerk wave form. Their electroretinograms were normal, but there was a peak latency and decreased amplitudes in visual evoked potential. And the structures of maculae had no obvious abnormality. The performance of the anomalous head posture was varied. Conclusion • Thr275fs in FRMD7 protein is identified as the main factor in the Chinese family with X-linked infantile nystagmus. The clinical features of the family show a certain degree of consistency.

Oculo-facio-cardio-dental syndrome in a girl and her mother.

Congenital heart defects are known to be associated with facial dysmorphism and other congenital anomalies. Oculo-facio-cardio-dental (OFCD) syndrome is one such rare multiple congenital anomaly syndrome inherited as an X-linked dominant condition characterized by congenital cataracts, multiple minor facial dysmorphic features, congenital heart defects and dental anomalies. It is unrecognized by many medical and dental professionals. Only 21 cases have been reported so far. This syndrome is often misrecognized as rubella embryopathy because of association of congenital cataract with cardiac anomalies. It is usually the orthodontists who diagnose the syndrome based on typical findings on dental panoramic radiographs. But we suspected our patient to be having OFCD syndrome based on typical facial dysmorphism, ocular and cardiac defects, and finally it was confirmed after noticing typical dental radiographic findings.

Incontinentia Pigmenti in a Mother and her Daughter

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a rare multisystemic ectodermal disorder, which is characterized by vesicular, verrucous, and pigmented cutaneous lesions, and is frequently associated with various developmental defects of the eye, CNS, teeth, hair, and nail. It is regarded as an X-linked dominant genetic disorder. We recently experienced a case with IP, who presented with irregular, reticular, and slate-gray to brown colored pigmentation on the whole body at birth. Skin lesions were much improved by 6 month of age. The mother of this infant had the history of same cutaneous lesions in her neonatal period, suggesting that these lesions had familial tendency.