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Biomedical subjects

M C Digilio

Publications and source records attributed to M C Digilio.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Audiological findings in patients with microdeletion 22q11 (di George/velocardiofacial syndrome).

Microdeletion 22q11 (del22q11) is one of the most frequent causes of genetic syndromes. The majority of cases of di George and velocardiofacial syndromes are due to del22q11. These conditions are considered to be developmentally related to neural crest anomalies influencing the differentiation of the branchial arches, including the percursor tissue of the ear. In addition, the UFDIL gene, an ubiquination gene being expressed during embryogenesis in the inner ear primordia, has been identified in the 22q11 critical region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hearing impairment in del22q11 syndrome. Admittance audiometry, behavioural pure tone audiometry and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were performed in 27 children studied at our hospital between 1997 and 1998. Results were related to clinical history, frequency otitis media and immune status. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 4/27 (15%) patients (severe in three cases, mild in one), conductive hearing impairment in 12/27 (45%) (moderate in four cases, mild in eight) and normal hearing in 11/27 (40%). Interestingly, three of the patients with sensorineural hearing loss had cerebral lesions due to neonatal distress, to hydrocephalus and to post-surgical ischaemia each in one. The prevalence of speech delay, otitis media and low CD3 values was higher among patients with conductive hearing impairment in comparison with those with normal hearing. In conclusion, hearing impairment was documented in 60% of the patients and must be included among the clinical features of del22q11 syndrome. Audiological evaluation is recommended in patients with del22q11 in order to reduce the risk of speech deficit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Microdeletion 22q11 and oesophageal atresia.

Oesophageal atresia (OA) is a congenital defect associated with additional malformations in 30-70% of the cases. In particular, OA is a component of the VACTERL association. Since some major features of the VACTERL association, including conotruncal heart defect, radial aplasia, and anal atresia, have been found in patients with microdeletion 22q11.2 (del(22q11.2)), we have screened for del(22q11.2) by fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) in 15 syndromic patients with OA. Del(22q11.2) was detected in one of them, presenting with OA, tetralogy of Fallot, anal atresia, neonatal hypocalcaemia, and subtle facial anomalies resembling those of velocardiofacial syndrome. The occurrence of del(22q11.2) in our series of patients with OA is low (1/15), but this chromosomal anomaly should be included among causative factors of malformation complexes with OA. In addition, clinical variability of del(22q11.2) syndrome is further corroborated with inclusion of OA in the list of the findings associated with the deletion.

Anus, Imperforate↗
PubMed1999

Congenital heart defects in patients with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome and del22q11.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are found in 75% of patients with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial (DG/VCF) syndromes with deletion 22q11.2 (del22q11). The purpose of this study was to analyse clinical features and, particularly, types and subtypes of CHDs associated with del22q11 in our series of patients and in those reported in other studies. All patients with CHD and del22q11 present major or minor clinical features of DG/VCF syndrome. Many children, particularly in the neonatal age, have only a "subtle" phenotype, so that accurate phenotypical evaluation is mandatory for selecting patients with CHD at risk for del22q11. Conotruncal cardiac defects are the most common CHDs in patients with DG/VCF syndrome, but other defects can also occur. Peculiar anatomical subtypes are found in patients with del22q11. They are frequently complex, consisting in malalignment with deficiency of the infundibular septum and anomalies of the aortic arch and pulmonary arteries.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Detection of an atypical 7q11.23 deletion in Williams syndrome patients which does not include the STX1A and FZD3 genes.

We present two patients with the full Williams syndrome (WS) phenotype carrying a smaller deletion than typically observed. The deleted region spans from the elastin gene to marker D7S1870. This observation narrows the minimal region of deletion in WS and suggests that the syntaxin 1A and frizzled genes are not responsible for the major features of this developmental disorder and provides important insight into understanding the genotype-phenotype correlation in WS.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1998

Congenital heart defect in sibs with discordant karyotypes.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are genetically heterogeneous, associated with a variety of genetic conditions. Familial aggregation of CHD in patients with and without Down syndrome is rare. We report on the occurrence of concordant CHD in three sets of sibs with discordant karyotypes. In the first family, atrioventricular canal (AVC) was diagnosed in a chromosomally normal child and in his brother with Down syndrome. In the second family, AVC was associated with trisomy 21 in one sib and with trisomy 18 in the other. In the third family, tetralogy of Fallot was present in one patient with Down syndrome and in his nonsyndromic sister. Although the genetic heterogeneity of Down and non-Down CHD is not disputed, a susceptibility to both euploid and aneuploid CHDs could exist, and common predisposing factors could play a role in both conditions.

Down Syndrome↗
PubMed1998

Noonan syndrome and aortic coarctation.

Congenital heart defect (CHD) is present in half of the propositi with Noonan syndrome (NS). Aortic coarctation (AC) is rarely seen in NS, since only three male patients with NS and AC have been previously reported. On the other hand, AC is common in the Ull-rich-Turner syndrome, an aneuploidy disorder and not a mendelian syndrome. In order to evaluate if AC is truly rare in patients with NS, we reviewed our series of 184 propositi with NS and CHD. AC was diagnosed in 16 (8.7%) patients. There were 11 males and 5 females. All had normal chromosomes. Clinical characteristics of the patients are described. Familial occurrence was detected in one girl with NS and AC whose mother and sibs also had NS, but different form of CHDs. Thus, AC is more frequent in NS than previously reported.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Intrafamilial variability of Pfeiffer-type cardiocranial syndrome.

We report on the occurrence of Pfeiffer-type cardiocranial syndrome in a brother and sister born to unaffected parents. The cardinal manifestations of the syndrome are congenital heart defect, sagittal craniosynostosis, genital anomalies, and mental and growth retardation. The craniosynostosis was present in only one of the sibs, suggesting intrafamilial variability of the syndrome. The clinical spectrum of cardiocranial syndrome is further expanded by the inclusion of renal, joint, and palpebral abnormalities detected in our patients. The occurrence of the syndrome in a brother-sister sib pair supports the hypothesis of an autosomal-recessive inheritance.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Progeroid syndrome with characteristic facial appearance and hand anomalies in father and son.

We report on the father-to-son transmission of a progeroid syndrome characterized by facial anomalies, sparse subcutaneous fat, and hand anomalies including syndactyly, camptodactyly, and finger deviation. Mild mental retardation, microcephaly, and congenital heart defect were found only in the son. To our knowledge, this syndrome has not been described previously.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1997

Tricuspid atresia and 22q11 deletion.

Tricuspid atresia has not been reported in 22q11 microdeletions causing DiGeorge and velo-cardio-facial syndromes. We investigated the prevalence of 22q11 hemizygosity in 26 children with tricuspid atresia. Fluorescent hybridization with the Sc11.1 probe demonstrated a 22q11 microdeletion in 2 patients, one with and another without transposition of the great arteries. Both deletion patients had minor facial anomalies characteristic of DiGeorge syndrome. The present observations suggest that tricuspid atresia should be included in the list of cardiac malformations seen in del22q11 syndromes.

Adult↗