A boy with developmental delay, malformations, and evidence of a connective tissue disorder: possibly a new type of cutis laxa

Looking past the lump: genetic aspects of inguinal hernia in children

Inguinal hernia is associated with a multitude of genetic syndromes. Disorders of the microfibril, elastin, collagen, and the glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix can result in an increase in the likelihood of inguinal hernia. In addition, inguinal hernia may be the presenting feature of disorders of sexual differentiation. Inguinal hernia of unknown etiology also occurs more commonly in several other groups of genetic diseases including chromosomal disorders, microdeletion disorders such as 22q11.2 microdeletion, and in single gene disorders. We review the genetics of connective tissue formation and focus on a series of genetic conditions that may present with or are characterized by a higher risk of inguinal hernia. A comprehensive review of the literature aims to provide a diagnostic framework to aid in the identification of patients with inguinal hernia as part of underlying genetic disease.

Autosomal recessive cutis laxa syndrome revisited

The clinical spectrum of the autosomal recessive cutis laxa syndromes is highly heterogeneous with respect to organ involvement and severity. One of the major diagnostic criteria is to detect abnormal elastin fibers. In several other clinically similar autosomal recessive syndromes, however, the classic histological anomalies are absent, and the definite diagnosis remains uncertain. In cutis laxa patients mutations have been demonstrated in elastin or fibulin genes, but in the majority of patients the underlying genetic etiology remains unknown. Recently, we found mutations in the ATP6V0A2 gene in families with autosomal recessive cutis laxa. This genetic defect is associated with abnormal glycosylation leading to a distinct combined disorder of the biosynthesis of N- and O-linked glycans. Interestingly, similar mutations have been found in patients with wrinkly skin syndrome, without the presence of severe skin symptoms of elastin deficiency. These findings suggest that the cutis laxa and wrinkly skin syndromes are phenotypic variants of the same disorder. Interestingly many phenotypically similar patients carry no mutations in the ATP6V0A2 gene. The variable presence of protein glycosylation abnormalities in the diverse clinical forms of the wrinkled skin-cutis laxa syndrome spectrum necessitates revisiting the diagnostic criteria to be able to offer adequate prognosis assessment and counseling. This paper aims at describing the spectrum of clinical features of the various forms of autosomal recessive cutis laxa syndromes. Based on the recently unraveled novel genetic entity we also review the genetic aspects in cutis laxa syndromes including genotype-phenotype correlations and suggest a practical diagnostic approach.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, etiology and management, a 10-year analysis of a single center

OBJECTIVE

To analyze congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) during a 10-year period at the University of Kiel, from 1995 through 2004, in order to develop a strategy to improve prenatal diagnosis, to be able to consider endoscopical treatment for selected cases and to assess the current postnatal treatment strategies.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the fetal medicine ultrasound department, from the birth registry, from the postmortem registry, from the neonatal intensive care unit, from pediatric surgery and from the genetic database. Data were subselected for chromosomes, genetic syndromes, for isolated CDH and for associated anomalies, the lung to head ratio and lung volumes were assessed. Data were analyzed respectively for gestation at diagnosis, the type of CDH, the perinatal management and the postnatal outcome.

RESULTS

There were 29 cases of CDH, in 10/29 (34%) the parents requested termination of pregnancy of which two had already died during pregnancy, 12/19 (63%) survived, which was defined as discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, seven newborns 7/19 (37%) died in the hospital, 5 of these 5/7 (71%) were delivered in Kiel. A prenatal diagnosis was performed in 16/29 (55%), 1/16 (6%), 7/16 (43%) and 8/16 (50%) in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively; in 10/29 (34%) diagnosis was performed postpartum, in 3/29 (10%) the diagnosis was performed at autopsy following termination of pregnancy. When the liver was in the abdomen, 9/10 (90%) of the children survived, compared to only 3/8 (43%) when the liver was located in the thorax. A lung to head ratio of 0.81 at 24 weeks resulted in death due to pulmonary hypoplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall survival in CDH is around 50%, antenatal endoscopical therapy may only be considered, if the diagnosis is performed in the early second trimester, and selection criteria such as the lung to head ratio, associated defects and the chromosomal status can be applied.