A Case of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome who Presented with Hypotonia

Lethal Complications and Complex Genotypes in Shwachman Diamond Syndrome: Report of a Family with Recurrent Neonatal Deaths and a Case-Based Brief Review of the Literature

Shwachman Diamond Syndrome (SDS) is a multi-system disease characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency with malabsorption, infantile neutropenia and aplastic anemia. Life-threatening complications include progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), critical deep-tissue infections and asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy. In most patients, SDS results from biallelic pathogenic variants in the SBDS gene, different combinations of which contribute to heterogenous clinical presentations. Null variants are not well tolerated, supporting the theory that the loss of SBDS expression is likely lethal in both mice and humans. A novel complex genotype (SBDS:c.[242C>G;258+2T>C];[460-1G>A]/WFS1:c.[2327A>T];[1371G>T]) was detected in a family with recurrent neonatal deaths. A female neonate died three hours after birth with hemolytic anemia, and a male neonate with severe anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia succumbed on day 40 after Staphylococcus epidermidis infection. A subsequent review of the literature focused on fatal complications, complex SBDS genotypes and/or unusual clinical presentations and disclosed rare cases, of which some had unexpected combinations of genetic and clinical findings. The impact of pathogenic variants and associated phenotypes is discussed in the context of data sharing towards expanding scientific expert networks, consolidating knowledge and advancing an understanding of novel underlying genotypes and complex phenotypes, facilitating informed clinical decisions and disease management.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients with Shwachman Diamond syndrome: a literature review of Chinese publication

Shwachman Diamond syndrome (SDS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder and due to its complex and varied clinical manifestations, diagnosis is often delayed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of SDS in Chinese patients, in order to increase pediatricians' awareness of SDS and to allow early diagnosis. We conducted a search to identify patients presenting SBDS gene pathogenic variant in two Chinese academic databases. We analyzed and summarized the epidemiology, clinical features, gene pathogenic variants, and key points in the diagnosis and treatment of SDS. We reviewed the clinical data of 39 children with SDS from previously published articles. The interval from the onset of the first symptoms to diagnosis was very long for most of our patients. The age of presentation ranged from 1 day to 10 years (median: 3 months). However, the age of diagnosis was significantly delayed, ranging from 1 month to 14 years (median: 14 months). Hematological abnormalities were the most common presentation, 89.7% (35/39) at the beginning and 94.9% (37/39) at diagnosis of SDS. Diarrhea was the second most common clinical abnormality at the time of diagnosis. 59% (23/39) of patients had a typical history of persistent chronic diarrhea. Furthermore, hepatic enlargement or elevation of transaminase occurred in 15 cases (38.5%). 56.4% patients (22/39) had a short stature, and 17.9% (7/39) patients showed developmental delay. Additionally, twenty patients had compound heterozygous pathogenic variants of c.258 + 2T > C and c.183_ 184TA > CT. Children with SDS in China had high incidence rates of chronic diarrhea, cytopenia, short stature, and liver damage. Furthermore, SBDS c.258 + 2T > C and c.183_ 184TA > CT were the most common pathogenic variants in patients with SDS. The diagnosis of SDS can be delayed if the clinical phenotype is not recognized by the health care provider.

Shwachman-diamond syndrome: A case report

RATIONALE

The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic abnormalities and clinical manifestations of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A Chinese infant with elevated transaminase and a novel mutation at of sbdsc.258 +2T>C and c.184a>Tc.292G>A.

DIAGNOSES

The female patient was 5 months' old at onset, with elevated transaminase as the first manifestation accompanied by restricted growth and development and oily stool. After sequencing the blood samples from patients and their parents, the heterozygous mutations of sbdsc.258 +2T>C and c.184a>T were detected.

INTERVENTIONS

After admission, the patient was provided compound glycyrrhizin, Newtide formula milk supplemented with probiotics, fat-soluble vitamins, oral medication to adjust the spleen and stomach, and other symptomatic treatments.

OUTCOMES

The stool traits improved, and the levels of liver function transaminases decreased compared with before.

LESSONS

SDS is a rare disease with a variety of clinical manifestations. Pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, blood system manifestations, and bone abnormalities are common clinical manifestations, and genetic testing is helpful for diagnosis.