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1. Clinical Genetics and Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of PMS. A prototypical terminal deletion of 22q13 can be uncovered by karyotype analysis, but many terminal and interstitial deletions are too small to detect with this method. Chromosomal microarray should be ordered in children with suspected developmental delays or ASD. Most cases will be identified by microarray; however, small variations in genes might be missed. The falling cost for whole exome sequencing may replace DNA microarray technology for candidate gene evaluation. Biological parents should be tested with fluorescence "in situ" hybridization (FISH) to rule out balanced translocations or inversions. Balanced translocation in a parent increases the risk for recurrence and heritability within families (figure 3).
Clinical genetic evaluations and dysmorphology exams should be done to evaluate growth, pubertal development, dysmorphic features (table 1) and screen for organ defects (table 2)
2. Cognitive and Behavioral Assessment
All patients should undergo comprehensive developmental, cognitive and behavioral assessments by clinicians with experience in developmental disorders. Cognitive evaluation should be tailored for individuals with significant language and developmental delays. All patients should be referred for specialized speech/language, occupational and physical therapy evaluations.
3. Neurological Management
Individuals with PMS should be followed by a pediatric neurologist regularly to monitor motor development, coordination and gait, as well as conditions that might be associated with hypotonia. Head circumference should be performed routinely up until 36 months. Given the high rate of seizure disorders (up to 41% of patients) reported in the literature in patients with PMS and its overall negative impact on development, an overnight video EEG should be considered early to rule out seizure activity. In addition, a baseline structural brain MRI should be considered to rule out the presence of structural abnormalities.
4. Nephrology
All patients should have a baseline renal and bladder ultrasonography and a voiding cystourethrogram should be considered to rule out structural and functional abnormalities. Renal abnormalities are reported in up to 38% of patients with PMS. Vesicouretral reflux, hydronephrosis, renal agenesis, dysplasic kidney, polycystic kidney and recurrent urinary tract infections have all been reported in patients with PMS.
5. Cardiology
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are reported in samples of children with PMS with varying frequency (up to 25%)(29,36). The most common CHD include tricuspid valve regurgitation, atrial septal defects and patent ductus arteriousus. Cardiac evaluation, including echocardiography and electrocardiogram, should be considered.
6. Gastroenterology
Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in individuals with PMS. Gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, diarrhea and cyclic vomiting are frequently described.
Table 3: Clinical Assessment Recommendations in Phelan McDermid Syndrome.
Suspicion of a chromosome abnormality is typically raised due to the presence of developmental delays or birth defects. Diagnosis of ring 18 is usually made via a blood sample. A routine chromosome analysis, or karyotype, is usually used to make the initial diagnosis, although it may also be made by microarray analysis. Increasingly, microarray analysis is also being used to clarify breakpoints. Prenatal diagnosis is possible via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
Ring chromosome 14 syndrome is extremely rare, the true rate of occurrence is unknown (as it is "less than" 1 per 1,000,000), but there are at least 50 documented cases in the literature.
Diagnosis is achieved by examining the structure of the chromosomes through karyotyping; while once born, one can do the following to ascertain a diagnosis of the condition:
- MRI
- EEG
Most individuals with this condition do not survive beyond childhood. Individuals with MDS usually die in infancy and therefore do not live to the age where they can reproduce and transmit MDS to their offspring.
While no cure for MDS is available yet, many complications associated with this condition can be treated, and a great deal can be done to support or compensate for functional disabilities. Because of the diversity of the symptoms, it can be necessary to see a number of different specialists and undergo various examinations, including:
- Developmental evaluation
- Cardiologists evaluation
- Otolaryngology
- Treatment of seizures
- Urologic evaluation
- Genetic counseling-balanced chromosomal translocation should be excluded in a parents with an affected child are planning another pregnancy, so parents with affected children should visit a genetic counselor.
At present, treatment for ring 18 is symptomatic, meaning that the focus is on treating the signs and symptoms of the conditions as they arise. To ensure early diagnosis and treatment, it is suggested that people with ring 18 undergo routine screenings for thyroid, hearing, and vision problems.
The ring 20 abnormality may be limited to as few as 5% of cells, so a screen for chromosomal mosaicism is critical. Newer array technology will not detect the ring chromosome and the standard metaphase chromosome analysis has been recommended. A karyotype analysis examining at least 50 cells should be requested to properly detect mosaicism.
13q deletion syndrome can only be definitively diagnosed by genetic analysis, which can be done prenatally or after birth. Increased nuchal translucency in a first-trimester ultrasound may indicate the presence of 13q deletion.
Diagnosing Jacobsen Syndrome can be difficult in some cases because it is a rare chromosomal disorder. There are a variety of tests that can be carried out like karyotype, cardiac echocardiogram, a renal sonogram, a platelet count, blood count, a brain imaging study. Genetic testing can be carried out for diagnosis. In which chromosomes are stained to give a barcode like appearance and studied under the microscope which reveals the broken and deleted genes. It can also be diagnosed early in the prenatal stage if there are any abnormalities seen in the ultrasound. A simple assessment of the symptoms can be done to diagnose the Syndrome. A thorough physical examination could be carried out to assess the symptoms.
The true prevalence of PMS has not been determined. More than 1200 people have been identified worldwide according the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation. However, it is believed to be underdiagnosed due to inadequate genetic testing and lack of specific clinical features. It is known to occur with equal frequency in males and females. Studies using chromosomal microarray for diagnosis indicate that at least 0.5% of cases of ASD can be explained by mutations or deletions in the "SHANK3" gene. In addition when ASD is associated with ID, "SHANK3" mutations or deletions have been found in up to 2% of individuals.
A clinical diagnosis of SCS can be verified by testing the TWIST1 gene (only gene in which mutations are known to cause SCS) for mutations using DNA analysis, such as sequence analysis, deletion/duplication analysis, and cytogenetics/ FISH analysis. Sequence analysis of exon 1 (TWIST1 coding region) provides a good method for detecting the frequency of mutations in the TWIST1 gene. These mutations include nonsense, missense, splice site mutation, and intragenic deletions/insertions. Deletion/duplication analysis identifies mutations in the TWIST1 gene that are not readily detected by sequence analysis. Common methods include PCR, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and chromosomal microarray (CMA). Cytogenetic/FISH analysis attaches fluorescently labels DNA markers to a denatured chromosome and is then examined under fluorescent lighting, which reveals mutations caused by translocations or inversions involving 7p21. Occasionally, individuals with SCS have a chromosome translocation, inversion, or ring chromosome 7 involving 7p21 resulting in atypical findings, such as, increased developmental delay. Individuals with SCS, typically have normal brain functioning and rarely have mental impairments. For this reason, if an individual has both SCS and mental retardation, then they should have their TWIST1 gene screened more carefully because this is not a normal trait of SCS. Cytogenetic testing and direct gene testing can also be used to study gene/chromosome defects. Cytogenetic testing is the study of chromosomes to detect gains or losses of chromosomes or chromosome segments using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and/or comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). Direct gene testing uses blood, hair, skin, amniotic fluid, or other tissues in order to find genetic disorders. Direct gene testing can determine whether an individual has SCS by testing the individual's blood for mutations in the TWIST1 gene.
Research on the risk for developing schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jews and other populations showed that 3q29 microdeletion syndrome leads to a significant higher rate of schizophrenia.
During pregnancy, women can be screened by chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis to detect trisomy 16. With the advent of noninvasive techniques for detecting aneuploidy, prenatal screening with tests using Next Generation Sequencing can be utilised prior to invasive techniques. This can cause fetal growth retardation.
Limited data is available for the long-term prognosis of ring chromosome 20 syndrome since only over 60 patients with this syndrome have been reported in published literature. Optimal control of seizures appears to be the determining factor, but early diagnosis and a comprehensive management plan with multidisciplinary support is also thought be to be important.
Up until recently, experts frequently disagreed on whether a patient had SCS, Crouzon syndrome, isolated craniosynostosis, or some other disease because the symptoms are so closely related, they literally had no way of differentiating between all of them. However, we now have direct gene testing, which allows for a more definitive diagnosis because it allows them to be differentiated from each other based on which gene is mutated in each condition. The following is a list of conditions commonly confused/misdiagnosed for SCS, some of their symptoms, and which mutated gene each contains:
Craniometaphyseal dysplasia is diagnosed based on clinical and radiographic findings that include hyperostosis. Some things such as cranial base sclerosis and nasal sinuses obstruction can be seen during the beginning of the child's life. In radiographic findings the most common thing that will be found is the narrowing of foramen magnum and the widening of long bones. Once spotted treatment is soon suggested to prevent further compression of the foramen magnum and disabling conditions.
Although there is no cure for 13q deletion syndrome, symptoms can be managed, usually with the involvement of a neurologist, rehabilitation physician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, psychotherapist, nutritionist, special education professional, and/or speech therapist. If the affected child's growth is particularly slow, growth hormone treatment can be used to augment growth. Plastic surgeries can repair cleft palates, and surgical repair or monitoring by a pediatric cardiologist can manage cardiac defects. Some skeletal, neurological, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and ophthalmic abnormalities can be definitively treated with surgery. Endocrine abnormalities can often be managed medically. Special educators, speech and occupational therapists, and physiotherapists can help a child develop skills in and out of school.
The only treatment for this disorder is surgery to reduce the compression of cranial nerves and spinal cord. However, bone regrowth is common since the surgical procedure can be technically difficult. Genetic counseling is offered to the families of the people with this disorder.
The diagnosis of Angelman syndrome is based on:
- A history of delayed motor milestones and then later a delay in general development, especially of speech
- Unusual movements including fine tremors, jerky limb movements, hand flapping and a wide-based, stiff-legged gait.
- Characteristic facial appearance (but not in all cases).
- A history of epilepsy and an abnormal EEG tracing.
- A happy disposition with frequent laughter
- A deletion or inactivity on chromosome 15 by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) or by BACs-on-Beads technology.
Diagnostic criteria for the disorder were initially established in 1995 in collaboration with the Angelman syndrome Foundation (US); these criteria underwent revision in 2005.
Full trisomy 16 is incompatible with life and most of the time it results in miscarriage during the first trimester. This occurs when all of the cells in the body contain an extra copy of chromosome 16.
3q29 microdeletion syndrome is a rare genetic disorder resulting from the deletion of a segment of chromosome 3. This syndrome was first described in 2005.
There has been no treatment discovered for Jacobsen Syndrome until now but the Symptoms can be treated. 56% of children with Jacobsen Syndrome have congenital heart problems to keep them in check a baseline evaluation can be made by a paediatric cardiologist by carrying out an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram. Any problems that are found can be treated then.
Almost all affected children are born with a bleeding disorder, monthly CBT may help ease the problem. Consecutively Platelet transfusion and ddAVP can be carried out. Medication that interferes with platelet count should be avoided and oral contraceptive therapy may be considered for women with heavy bleeding during menses.
Children affected with Jacobsen Syndrome have severe to Moderate intellectual disabilities and cognitive impairment. An evaluation by a neuropsychologist or a behaviour specialist like a Psychiatrist or Psychologist can be performed, including brain imaging like MRI or ERP. Then as deemed appropriate intervention programs can be carried through. Music therapy is very beneficial for language development. According to the age, befitting vision and hearing test can aid in fixing problems related cognition. For problems related to behaviour like ADHD, medication or therapy would be required but a combination of both is more effective. An ophthalmologist should be consulted to treat the eye defects. Play and interactive games encourage the child to speak. Habilitiation in children should begin at an early age. A habilitation team includes professionals with special expertise in how disability affects everyday life, health and development. The entire family is supported to help the affected children and their families adjust better.
There is no consensus on what degree of angulation justifies a diagnosis, an incline between 15° and 30° is typical. A similar-sounding term, camptodactyly, is a fixed flexion deformity of a digit.
A ring chromosome is an aberrant chromosome whose ends have fused together to form a ring. Ring chromosomes were first discovered by Lilian Vaughan Morgan in 1926. A ring chromosome is denoted by the symbol "r" in human genetics and "R" in Drosophila genetics. Ring chromosomes may form in cells following genetic damage by mutagens like radiation, but they may also arise spontaneously during development.