Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with situs inversus: description of a new case and exclusion of GDF1, GDF3 and GDF6 as causal genes.

OBJECTIVE: Klippel-Feil syndrome is characterized by faulty segmentation of two or more cervical vertebrae and, in its most severe form, consists of massive cervical vertebral fusion, short neck, low posterior hairline, and limitation of head movement. Several cases associating Klippel-Feil syndrome with situs inversus totalis have been reported. In the present study, we describe the clinical features of a novel case of Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with situs inversus totalis and searched for mutations in GDF1, GDF3 and GDF6 genes, which were recently implicated in the development of skeletal and visceral anomalies. METHODS: A case of Klippel-Feil syndrome associated with situs inversus totalis underwent a full clinical examination including X-ray of cervical spine and thorax, abdominal ultrasound, and computerized tomography scanning of thorax and abdomen. PCR amplification and automated nucleotide sequencing of coding exons and intron-exon junctions of GDF1, GDF3, and GDF6 genes were performed in genomic DNA. RESULTS: No molecular alterations were found in GDF1, GDF3 and GDF6 genes in this patient. CONCLUSION: An additional patient associating Klippel-Feil syndrome and situs inversus totalis is reported. Mutations in GDF1, GDF3, and GDF6 genes were excluded as the cause of this unusual clinical association.

OCT findings in young asymptomatic subjects carrying familial BEST1 gene mutations.

PURPOSE: Best disease is an autosomal dominant retinal degeneration characterized by the presence of yellow lesions in the macula causing decreased central visual acuity at later stages. Best disease is caused by heterozygous mutations in BEST1, a gene located at chromosome 11q13. In the present study, we describe the clinical and molecular analysis of two multigenerational families with Best disease and correlate the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects carrying BEST1 mutations. METHODS: Two Mexican families with 3 affected generations each were studied. Probands underwent full ophthalmologic examination including fundus examination, fluorescent angiography (FAG), and electro-oculogram (EOG). Fourier-domain 3D OCT was performed in a number of symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects from these two pedigrees. PCR amplification and automated nucleotide sequencing of the 11 exons of the BEST1 gene in genomic DNA were also performed. RESULTS: Eighteen members of family 1 were molecularly tested. Seven subjects, including 4 young asymptomatic patients, carried a W24C heterozygous mutation in BEST1. OCT imaging in a 6-year-old asymptomatic patient carrying this mutation did not demonstrate retinal lesions. Fifteen subjects from family 2 were molecularly tested. Four patients, including 2 asymptomatic subjects, carried a heterozygous Q293K BEST1 mutation. OCT imaging in an asymptomatic 8-year-old individual with the Q293K mutation demonstrated bilateral subfoveal lesions and unilateral serous retinal detachment. Symptomatic patients showed severe retinal lesions by OCT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results add to the clinical, imaging, and molecular knowledge of Best disease and suggest that OCT can recognize retinal lesions in some asymptomatic carriers of BEST1 mutations as early as 8 years of age.