[Warsaw breakage syndrome: an etiology for congenital microcephaly and sensorineural deafness]

INTRODUCTION

Warsaw breakage syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder due to biallelic pathogenic variants in DDX11 gene, with a role in the sister chromatid cohesion process, and classified in the cohesinophaties group. It is characterized by the clinical triad of growth restriction, microcephaly and sensorineural deafness. Additional, but less frequent features, are facial dysmorphism, and skeletal, heart, skin and genitourinary anomalies.

CASE REPORT

We report a boy with the cardinal features of the syndrome: prenatal growth restriction, severe congenital microcephaly, and sensorineural deafness with cochlear nerves agenesis. He also has a cardiac anomaly, hypospadias, cryptorchidism, skin abnormality, and pes planus. The exome yielded two heterozygous likely pathogenic variants in the DDX11 gene, c.1403dup; p.(Ser469Valfs*32) and c.2371C>T; p.(Arg791Trp), inherited in trans from the parents.

CONCLUSION

We review the clinical and genetic data of the 23 reported cases with the syndrome in the literature and analyze the etiopathogenic interpretation of our case variants based on the molecular and cellular functions of DDX11 described. Due to the clinical overlap with the chromosomal breakage syndromes and cohesinopathies we must make the differential diagnosis with these entities, overall, with Fanconi anemia, Nijmegen breakage syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome and Roberts syndrome. In clinical practice we must think in Warsaw breakage syndrome in the neonatal period in a patient with intrauterine growth restriction, severe microcephaly, and sensorineural deafness.

[Microdeletion 12p12 involving SOX5 gene: a new syndrome with developmental delay]

INTRODUCTION

The SOX5 gene encodes a transcription factor involved in the regulation of chondrogenesis and the development of the nervous system.

CASE REPORT

We report a 10 years-old girl with developmental delay, behavior problems and dysmorphic features of this new syndrome with developmental delay. She had a 12p12 deletion involving SOX5.

CONCLUSIONS

We review the reported cases, intragenic SOX5 deletions and larger 12p12 deletions encompassing SOX5. We analyze the genotype-phenotype associations and the genes involved in our patient.