Study on clinical features and diagnostic methods of prenatal Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical features of fetuses with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome(WHS) and explore the diagnostic methods and prenatal ultrasound characteristics and provide evidence for prenatal genetic counseling.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed 5 cases of WHS fetuses diagnosed from March 2016 to February 2020, and analyzed the results of chromosomal karyotype analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) of the fetuses.@*RESULTS@#Five cases of WHS were detected by CMA, four cases were detected by karyotype analysis. Prenatal ultrasound revealed 4 abnormalities, of which 3 had intrauterine growth restriction, and only 1 had abnormalities of the maxillofacial region. The sequence of the fragments was 4p16.3p16.1 with a loss of 6.5 Mb, 4p16.3p15.32 with a loss of 15.6 Mb combined with 2p25.3 increased by 906kb, 4p16.3p15.31 with a loss of 20.4 Mb, 4p16.p15.1 with a loss of 35 Mb and 4p16.3p14 with a loss of 37 Mb.@*CONCLUSION@#Fetal growth restriction may be one of the early manifestations of WHS. Absence of fetal facial abnormality by prenatal ultrasound screening cannot exclude WHS. Karyotype analysis may miss the diagnosis of WHS, while combined CMA techniques can improve the diagnostic accuracy.

Uncommon Oral Cleft in Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a syndrome with craniofacial and systemic abnormalities, which is related to 4p deletion. A 3-month old girl with an undiagnosed syndrome was referred for evaluation of the cleft lip and palate. Hypotonia, short stature, cardiac malformation, hypertrophied clitoris, and atypical thumb of both hands was observed. Microcephaly, low-set ear, prominent glabella, downslanting palpebral fissures, a characteristic "Greek warrior helmet" appearance, micrognathia, ears with pits/tags and bilateral incomplete cleft lip apart from incomplete cleft palate were observed as craniofacial findings. With clinical diagnosis of WHS, blood was subjected to karyotyping, which showed a 4p15.2 deletion, consistent with the condition. Here is reported the case of this WHS patient with an uncommon oral cleft extending the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder. The child was referred to a multidisciplinary team to reparative surgery of the cleft lip and palate. The patient is on regular medical follow-up and will be further assisted by dentists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists. The genotype-phenotype correlation of the affected patient with previous WSH syndrome reports is described.

A síndrome de Wolf-Hirschhorn (WHS) é uma condição genética caracterizada por anomalias craniofaciais e sistêmicas, causada por deleção cromossômica na região 4p. Paciente de 3 meses de idade, gênero feminino, foi encaminhada para avaliação de fissura de lábio e fissura palatina, associada a uma síndrome não diagnosticada. A paciente apresentava-se com hipotonia, baixa estatura, malformação cardíaca, clitóris hipertrofiado e implantação atípica do polegar nas duas mãos. Microcefalia, baixa implantação da orelha, glabela proeminente, inclinação baixa das fissuras palpebrais, aparência característica de capacete de guerreiro grego, micrognatia, fossetas em orelhas, fissura labial bilateral incompleta e fissura palatina incompleta foram observadas como características craniofaciais. Com um diagnóstico clínico de WHS, foi realizado o cariótipo, que mostrou a deleção 4p15.2, consistente com a condição. Esse relato de caso apresenta um caso de WHS, com uma fissura oral incomum, ampliando o espectro fenotípico da doença. A paciente foi encaminhada a tratamento com equipe multidisciplinar para correção cirúrgica da fissura labial e palatina. Encontra-se em acompanhamento médico bem como odontológico, fisioterapêutico e em terapia ocupacional e psicológica. Uma correlação entre genótipo e fenótipo pode ser observada nesse relato da síndrome de WHS.

Recombinant Chromosome 4 with Partial 4p Deletion and 4q Duplication Inherited from Paternal Pericentric Inversion / 대한진단검사의학회지

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 4 can give rise to 2 alternate recombinant (rec) chromosomesby duplication or deletion of 4p. The deletion of distal 4p manifests as Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS). Here, we report the molecular cytogenetic findings and clinical manifestations observed in an infant with 46,XX,rec(4)dup(4q)inv(4)(p16q31.3)pat. The infant was delivered by Cesarean section at the 33rd week of gestation because pleural effusion and polyhydramnios were detected on ultrasonography. At birth, the infant showed no malformation or dysfunction, except for a preauricular skin tag. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of neonatal peripheral blood samples showed a gain of 38 Mb on 4q31.3-qter and a loss of 3 Mb on 4p16.3, and these results were consistent with WHS. At the last follow-up at 8 months of age (corrected age, 6 months), the infant had not achieved complete head control.

Síndrome de Wolf-Hirschhorn: reporte de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome: case report and literature review

El síndrome de Wolf-Hirschhorn es un trastorno cromosómico atribuible a una delección parcial del brazo corto del cromosoma 4 (4p-). Está caracterizado por hallazgos craneofaciales típicos en la infancia (“apariencia de guerrero griego” de la nariz, microcefalia, frente alta con glabela prominente, hipertelorismo, cejas muy arqueadas, filtrum corto, boca en carpa, y micrognatia, entre otros), retardo del crecimiento pre y postnatal, hipotonía y retardo del desarrollo. Los pacientes también pueden tener epilepsia y anormalidades que involucran otros órganos. El diagnóstico puede ser realizado por análisis citogenético convencional, el cual detecta la mayoría de los casos. El tratamiento incluye rehabilitación, terapia de lenguaje, drogas antiepilépticas cuando son necesarias, alimentación por gavaje o gastrostomía para las dificultades de la alimentación y terapia de soporte. Femenina de 10 meses de edad, quien presenta anomalías craneofaciales características, pie equinovaro bilateral, hipotonía, reflujo gastroesofágico, epilepsia, retardo del crecimiento y del desarrollo. El diagnóstico fue confirmado por detección de una delección de 4p que involucraba a la región crítica para este síndrome. Esta paciente recibe actualmente rehabilitación, medicación antirreflujo y ácido valproico. Esta condición debe ser reconocida por los pediatras, a fin de poder ofrecer un adecuado manejo a estos pacientes y sus familias.

Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome is a cromosomal disorder attributable to partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4(4p-). It is characterized by typical craneofacial features in infancy (“Greek warrior appearance” of the nose, microcephaly, high forehead with prominent glabella, hypertelorism, highly arched eyebrows, short philtrum, downturned mouth and micrognathia, among others), pre and postnatal growth retardation, hypotonia and developmental delay. Patients can also have epilepsy and abnormalities that involve other organs. Diagnosis can be made by conventional cytogenetic analysis which detects most of the cases. Treatment includes rehabilitation, speech therapy, antiepileptic drugs when necessary, gavage feeding or gastrostomy for feeding difficulties and standard management of other anomalies. 10 month-old female who presents characteristic craniofacial anomalies, clubfeet, hypotonia, gastroesofageal reflux, epilepsy, growth retardation and developmental delay. Diagnosis was confirmed by detection of a deletion of 4p that involved the critical region of the syndrome. This patient receives rehabilitation, antireflux medication and valproic acid. This condition must be recognized by pediatricians in order to offer adecuated management to these patients and their families.