A Korean case of de novo 18q deletion syndrome with a large atrial septal defect and cyanosis

Case report of a novel phenotype in 18q deletion syndrome

The latest decades are characterized by an enormous progression in the field of human genetics. In consequences, for various phenotypic manifestations, genetic testing could identify a specific underlying cause. An estimated incidence for all types of 18q deletions is one in 55 000 births predominant on females. About 94% of cases with 18q deletion syndrome appearance are de novo, and the remaining 6% are the inherited from a parent carrying a balanced chromosomal translocation. We present the case of a 35-year-old female who was admitted in our Unit for a second ultrasound opinion after being diagnosed at the second trimester scan at gestational age of 21 weeks of pregnancy with multiple brain and heart malformations, having the recommendation for fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Further investigations included genetic analysis and pathological examination. Major malformations diagnosed and confirmed were agenesis of the corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly with dilated fourth ventricle, partial agenesis of vermis, bilateral anophthalmia with wide nasal base and left cleft lip. Additional, cardiac malformation, with an important ventricular septal defect and overriding aorta were noted. The results of the microarray analysis showed an abnormal fetal karyotype with a loss of 30.5 basis identified in the long arm of chromosome 18. Although most of the cases of 18q deletion are sporadically or de novo, could be cases where the possible existing syndromes can be inherited from a healthy or mild affected parent. Therefore, in order to establish the recurrence risk, parental karyotypes are recommended.

Cyanosis due to an isolated atrial septal defect: case report and review of the literature

Isolated atrial defects usually lead to left-to-right shunt and right ventricular volume load. Descriptions of cyanosis with this congenital heart defect are rare.We describe a rare case of inferior caval vein flow directed through an atrial septal defect in the fossa ovalis leading to severe cyanosis, but without any additional intracardiac anatomical abnormalities. The baby with clinical features of Marfan's syndrome had an eventration of the right-sided diaphragm. Surgical closure of the defect resolved the cyanosis, but the child died 10 weeks later of severe valvar dysfunction, related to Marfan's syndrome.Mechanisms of cyanosis in patients with atrial septal defects are discussed. Echocardiographic bubble studies both from the lower and upper half of the body may help to clarify the mechanism of an otherwise unexplained cyanosis.