A Case of Laurence Moon Bardet Biedl Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome (LMBBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by polydactyly, retinitis pigmentosa, obesity, hypogonadism and mental retardation. MATERIALS: A 20-year old male, who is morbidly obese [BMI = 41] with history of intellectual delay, speech impairment and progressive vision loss. Presented to Saveetha medical college, Chennai with chief complaints of breathlessness, oliguria, abdominal distension. On examination patient had short stature, obese, crowded teeth present, had polydactyly of feet, micro penis and retinitis pigmentosa, nystagmus. He had pedal edema and facial puffiness. Laboratory investigations revealed Hb-6.9, creatinine-12, urea 217, potassium-7.7, bicarbonate-8.3. Echo showed eccentric Left ventricular hypertrophy. CT abdomen revealed hepatomegaly, right contracted kidney with renal pelvic lipomatosis, left enlarged kidney with hydroureteronephrosis grade 4. RESULT: He presented with all the primary Pentad features of LMBBS along with CKD stage 5. He also had secondary features like speech delay, developmental delay, dental crowding, high arched palate, left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: LMBBS is a disorder with an identified Pentad of symptoms which are obesity, hypogonadism, intellectual impairment, polydactyly and retinitis pigmentosa. Renal function loss is most common cause of mortality in these patients. Because of seemingly unrelated symptoms the disorder remains largely under diagnosed. Genetic counselling of effected families raise awareness about need to get the other family members assessed for renal and cardiovascular problems. References Khan PA, Nishaat J, Noor S, et al. Laurence Moon Bardet Biedl syndrome: a rare case report in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Int J Med Sci Public Health 2017;7(1):68-71. Katsanis N, Lupski JR, Beales PL. Exploring the molecular basis of Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2001;10(20):2293-2299.

Refining the clinical phenotype associated with missense variants in exons 38 and 39 of KMT2D.

Loss-of-function variants in KMT2D are responsible for Kabuki syndrome type 1 (KS1). In the last 5 years, missense variants in exon 38 or 39 in KMT2D have been found in patients exhibiting a new phenotype with multiple malformations and absence of intellectual disability, distinct from KS1. To date, only 16 cases have been reported with classic features of hearing loss, abnormality of the ear, lacrimal duct defects, branchial sinus/neck pits, choanal atresia (CA), athelia, hypo(para)thyroidism, growth delay, and dental anomalies. We report here two families and one unpublished variant, refining the clinical and molecular knowledge on this new entity. Family 1 presented with apparently isolated autosomal dominant choanal atresia, in eight members across three generations. Exome sequencing (ES) in the proband and one cousin revealed a p.Glu3569Gly variant in exon 38 of KMT2D, segregating with choanal atresia in the family. Clinical reevaluation evidenced thyroid dysfunction, mild hearing anomalies, and hypoplastic nipple in some patients. Family 2 presented with nasolacrimal duct obstruction, hearing loss, mild facial features, unilateral axial polydactyly, and unilateral toe V-VI syndactyly. ES revealed a de novo already reported p.Arg3582Gln variant in exon 38 of KMT2D. Considering these results and the existing literature, we suspect that missense variants in exon 38 of KMT2D are responsible for phenotypes that are even milder (isolated CA) and broader (polydactyly) than what has been previously described.

De novo heterozygous variants in SLC30A7 are a candidate cause for Joubert syndrome.

Joubert syndrome (JS), a well-established ciliopathy, is characterized by the distinctive molar tooth sign on brain MRI, ataxia, and neurodevelopmental features. Other manifestations can include polydactyly, accessory frenula, renal, or liver disease. Here, we report individuals meeting criteria for JS with de novo heterozygous variants in SLC30A7 (Chr1p21.2). The first individual is a female with history of unilateral postaxial polydactyly, classic molar tooth sign on MRI, macrocephaly, ataxia, ocular motor apraxia, neurodevelopmental delay, and precocious puberty. Exome sequencing detected a de novo heterozygous missense variant in SLC30A7: NM_133496.5: c.407 T > C, (p.Val136Ala). The second individual had bilateral postaxial polydactyly, molar tooth sign, macrocephaly, developmental delay, and an extra oral frenulum. A de novo deletion-insertion variant in SLC30A7, c.490_491delinsAG (p.His164Ser) was found. Both de novo variants affect highly conserved residues. Variants were not identified in known Joubert genes for either case. SLC30A7 has not yet been associated with a human phenotype. The SLC30 family of zinc transporters, like SLC30A7, permit cellular efflux of zinc, and although it is expressed in the brain its functions remain unknown. Published data from proteomic studies support SLC30A7 interaction with TCTN3, another protein associated with JS. The potential involvement of such genes in primary cilia suggest a role in Sonic Hedgehog signaling. SLC30A7 is a candidate JS-associated gene. Future work could be directed toward further characterization of SLC30A7 variants and understanding its function.

Homozygous mutation in CEP19, a gene mutated in morbid obesity, in Bardet-Biedl syndrome with predominant postaxial polydactyly.

BACKGROUND: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a ciliopathy with extensive phenotypic variability and genetic heterogeneity. We aimed to discover the gene mutated in a consanguineous kindred with multiple cases of a BBS phenotype. METHODS: SNP genotype data were used for linkage analysis and exome sequencing to identify mutations. Modelling and in silico analysis were performed to predict mutation severity. RESULTS: Patients had postaxial polydactyly plus variable other clinical features including rod-cone dystrophy, obesity, intellectual disability, renal malformation, developmental delay, dental anomalies, speech disorder and enlarged fatty liver. The 4.57 Mb disease locus harboured homozygous, truncating CEP19 c.194_195insA (p.Tyr65*) mutation. We also found glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1(GLI1) c.820G>C (p.Gly274Arg) in the homozygous state in most patients. In silico modelling strongly suggests that it is damaging. Also, different combinations of four possible modifier alleles in BBS-related genes were detected. Two are known modifier alleles for BBS, splicing variant CCDC28B c.330C>T and missense MKKS/BBS6 p.Ile339Val, and the others are C8ORF37/BBS21 p.Ala178Val and TMEM67/BBS14 modifier p.Asp799Asp. Some patients carry all those five known/possible modifier alleles. Such variants are highly significantly more abundant in our patients than in a control group. CONCLUSION: CEP19 encodes a centrosomal and ciliary protein, as all BBS genes do. Another truncating mutation p.Arg82* has been reported as responsible for morbid obesity in a family; however, in the family we present, not all homozygotes are obese, although some are severely obese. The variant in GLI1, encoding a transcription factor that localises to the primary cilium and nucleus and is a mediator of the sonic hedgehog pathway, possibly exacerbates disease severity when in the homozygous state.

Elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling Is Critical for the Pathogenesis of the Dwarfism in Evc2/Limbin Mutant Mice.

Ellis-van Creveld (EvC) syndrome is a skeletal dysplasia, characterized by short limbs, postaxial polydactyly, and dental abnormalities. EvC syndrome is also categorized as a ciliopathy because of ciliary localization of proteins encoded by the two causative genes, EVC and EVC2 (aka LIMBIN). While recent studies demonstrated important roles for EVC/EVC2 in Hedgehog signaling, there is still little known about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the skeletal dysplasia features of EvC patients, and in particular why limb development is affected, but not other aspects of organogenesis that also require Hedgehog signaling. In this report, we comprehensively analyze limb skeletogenesis in Evc2 mutant mice and in cell and tissue cultures derived from these mice. Both in vivo and in vitro data demonstrate elevated Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) signaling in Evc2 mutant growth plates, in addition to compromised but not abrogated Hedgehog-PTHrP feedback loop. Elevation of FGF signaling, mainly due to increased Fgf18 expression upon inactivation of Evc2 in the perichondrium, critically contributes to the pathogenesis of limb dwarfism. The limb dwarfism phenotype is partially rescued by inactivation of one allele of Fgf18 in the Evc2 mutant mice. Taken together, our data uncover a novel pathogenic mechanism to understand limb dwarfism in patients with Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.

Preaxial polydactyly associated with a MSX1 mutation and report of two novel mutations.

We report two novel heterozygous missense MSX1 mutations in two Thai families (c.739C>T; p.Pro247Ser and c.607G>A; p.Ala203Thr). The p.Ala203Thr mutation was found in a female patient, her sister, and their father and is associated with unilateral cleft lip and palate, hypodontia, and microdontia. The p.Pro247Ser mutation was found in a three-generation Thai family and was associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate, hypodontia, microdontia, and dens invaginatus. The proband also had preaxial polydactyly of the left hand. The role of Msx1 in limb development in mice is discussed. Intrafamilial variability of the phenotypes is clearly evident. This is the first time that a limb anomaly has been reported to be associated with a mutation in MSX1.

C5orf42 is the major gene responsible for OFD syndrome type VI.

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (OFD VI) is a recessive ciliopathy defined by two diagnostic criteria: molar tooth sign (MTS) and one or more of the following: (1) tongue hamartoma (s) and/or additional frenula and/or upper lip notch; (2) mesoaxial polydactyly of one or more hands or feet; (3) hypothalamic hamartoma. Because of the MTS, OFD VI belongs to the "Joubert syndrome related disorders". Its genetic aetiology remains largely unknown although mutations in the TMEM216 gene, responsible for Joubert (JBS2) and Meckel-Gruber (MKS2) syndromes, have been reported in two OFD VI patients. To explore the molecular cause(s) of OFD VI syndrome, we used an exome sequencing strategy in six unrelated families followed by Sanger sequencing. We identified a total of 14 novel mutations in the C5orf42 gene in 9/11 families with positive OFD VI diagnostic criteria including a severe fetal case with microphthalmia, cerebellar hypoplasia, corpus callosum agenesis, polydactyly and skeletal dysplasia. C5orf42 mutations have already been reported in Joubert syndrome confirming that OFD VI and JBS are allelic disorders, thus enhancing our knowledge of the complex, highly heterogeneous nature of ciliopathies.

Pure partial trisomy 4q syndrome in a child with der(9)ins(9;4)(q34.3;q26q35.2)mat.

Pure partial trisomy 4q syndrome in a child with der(9)ins(9;4)(q34.3;q26q35.2)mat: Partial trisomy 4q is a rare chromosomal abnormality and mostly results from unbalanced inheritance of balanced parental chromosomal translocations. Here, we present a 5-year-old boy with partial trisomy 4q who exhibited distinctive features of 'pure' partial trisomy 4q syndrome including moderate mental and growth retardation, microcephaly, peculiar face appearance, tooth anomaly, cleft palate, language handicap, preaxial polydactyly, and urogenital anomaly. Karyotype analysis of the child revealed der(9)ins(9;4)(q34.3;q26q35.2) inherited from mother carrying ins(9;4)(q34.3;q26q35.2) resulting in trisomy of the 4q26qter segment. Whole chromosome painting, locus specific, and subtelomeric FISH analysis in mother proved that q26qter of the chromosome 4 segment was directly inserted into the telomeric sequence in chromosome 9, and depending on nature of the rearrangement in mother, karyotype of the child was determined to be pure partial 4q trisomy. This is the first report of this kind of rearrangement causing pure partial trisomy 4q with accompanying white matter change demonstrated by MRI and bilateral preaxial polydactyly of both hands.

Novel KIF7 mutations extend the phenotypic spectrum of acrocallosal syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acrocallosal syndrome (ACLS) is a rare recessive disorder characterised by corpus callosum agenesis or hypoplasia, craniofacial dysmorphism, duplication of the hallux, postaxial polydactyly, and severe mental retardation. Recently, we identified mutations in KIF7, a key component of the Sonic hedgehog pathway, as being responsible for this syndrome. METHODS: We sequenced KIF7 in five suspected ACLS cases, one fetus and four patients, based on facial dysmorphism and brain anomalies. RESULTS: Seven mutations were identified at the KIF7 locus in these five cases, six of which are novel. We describe the first four compound heterozygous cases. In all patients, the diagnosis was suspected based on the craniofacial features, despite the absence of corpus callosum anomaly in one and of polydactyly in another. Hallux duplication was absent in 4/5 cases. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that ACLS has a variable expressivity and can be diagnosed even in the absence of the two major features, namely polydactyly or agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Facial dysmorphism with hypertelorism and prominent forehead in all the cases, as well as vermis dysgenesis with brainstem anomalies (molar tooth sign), strongly indicated the diagnosis. KIF7 should be tested in less typical patients in whom craniofacial features are suggestive of ACLS.

Ellis van creveld syndrome: Cardiac anomalies and anesthetic implications.

Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome (EVC), also known as mesoectodermal dysplasia, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with a tetrad of clinical features, comprising dwarfism, polydactyly, ectodermal dysplasia with sparse hair, hypoplastic nails and enamel, hypodontia and conical teeth and congenital heart disease (CHD). We report an 18-year-old girl with short stature and polydactyly, who got admitted to our hospital with shortness of breath on exertion for the last 2 years. On echocardiography, a partial atrioventricular canal (AV canal) defect was diagnosed, which was repaired surgically. The patient had an uneventful perioperative period.

Abnormal facial appearance, body asymmetry, limb deformities, and internal malformations.

We describe a newborn girl with multiple congenital anomalies and abnormal phenotype comprising underdeveloped corpus callosum with ventriculomegaly, chorioretinal atrophy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, annular pancreas, horseshoe kidney, asymmetric limb and chest anomalies, spinal segmentation defects, hypertrichosis, and unusual face with large anterior fontanel, high anterior hairline, broad forehead, mildly underdeveloped midface, hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, short and upturned nose, large mouth, retrognathia, and large and malformed ears. Work-up included cytogenetic studies of lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts, subtelomere Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), whole-genome oligo-array, and molecular analysis of SETBP1 and NSDHL: no abnormalities were found. Mucopolysaccharide urinary excretion was elevated. Results of metabolic studies for sterol and peroxisomal abnormalities in fibroblasts were normal. Additional electronic microscopy studies in skin fibroblasts did not show evidence for storage in fibroblasts or lysosomal changes. Nosologic considerations allowed exclusion of Schinzel-Giedion and Urioste syndrome. This condition seems not to have been described before; a segregating Mendelian mutation is assumed.

A Japanese boy with Bardet-Biedl syndrome caused by a novel homozygous variant in the ARL6 gene who was initially diagnosed with retinitis punctata albescens: A case report.

PURPOSE: Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal recessive systemic disorder characterized by retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, obesity, intellectual disability, renal impairments, and hypogonadism. The purpose of this study was to determine the ocular characteristics of a boy with BBS caused by a novel homozygous variant in the ARL6 (alternative named BBS3) gene who had been originally diagnosed with retinitis punctata albescens. METHODS: This was an observational case study. The patient underwent ophthalmological examinations, electroretinography, and genetic analyses using whole-exome sequencing. RESULTS: A 7-year-old boy was examined in our hospital with complaints of a progressive reduction of his visual acuity and night blindness in both eyes. There was no family history of eye diseases and no consanguineous marriage. Fundus examinations showed numerous white spots in the deep retina and retinal pigment epithelium. Fundus autofluorescence showed hypofluorescence consistent with these spots. Both the scotopic and photopic components of the full-field electroretinographies were non-detectable. Based on these clinical findings, this boy was suspected to have retinitis punctata albescens. Subsequent genetic testing using whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous variants in the ARL6/BBS3 gene (NM_001278293.3:c.528G>A, (p.Trp176Ter)). A systemic examination by the pediatric department revealed that this boy had a history of a surgical excision of polydactyly on his left foot when he was born, and that he was mildly obese. There were no prominent intellectual or gonadal dysfunctions, no craniofacial or dental abnormalities, no congenital heart disease, and no hearing impairment. He was then clinically and genetically diagnosed with BBS. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: In children with night blindness and progressive visual dysfunction, it is important for ophthalmologists to consult clinical geneticists and pediatricians to rule out the possibility of systemic diseases such as BBS.

Two novel heterozygous mutations of EVC2 cause a mild phenotype of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in a Chinese family.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EvC, chondroectodermal dysplasia; OMIM 225500) is an autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia with associated multisystem involvement. The syndrome is characterized by short limbs, short ribs, postaxial polydactyly, dysplastic nails, and abnormal teeth. Congenital heart defects occur in 50-60% of cases. In this study, we report EvC in a 6-year-old Chinese girl with hypodontia and polydactyly, mild short stature, and abnormalities of the knee joints. No signs of short ribs, narrow thorax, or congenital heart defects were found in this patient. The EvC phenotype shares some similarity with Weyers acrofacial dysostosis (Weyer; OMIM 193530), an autosomal dominant disorder clinically characterized by mild short stature, postaxial polydactyly, nail dystrophy, and dysplastic teeth. Mutations in EVC or EVC2 are associated with both EvC syndrome and Weyers acrodental dysostosis, but the two conditions differ in the severity of the phenotype and their pattern of inheritance. In this study, two novel heterozygous EVC2 mutations, IVS5-2A > G and c.2653C > T (Arg885X), were identified in the patient. The IVS5-2A > G mutation was inherited from the patient's mother and the c.2653C > T from her father. Her parents have no phenotypic symptoms similar to those of the patient. These findings extend the mutation spectrum of this malformation syndrome and provide the possibility of prenatal diagnosis for future offspring in this family.

Limited surface examination to evaluate potential teratogens in a resource-limited setting.

BACKGROUND: To determine the frequency of malformations that would be identified in the limited surface examination of a newborn by the delivering nurse midwife in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: The limited surface examination will identify visible external anomalies, but not abnormalities inside the mouth, most heart defects, undescended testes, inguinal hernias, hip dysplasia, peripheral vascular anomalies, and some internal anomalies. The findings in a malformations surveillance program, involving 289,365 births in Boston, have been used to establish the prevalence rate of malformations that would be identified and not identified. In African countries, the number of anomalies to be identified should also be reduced by excluding polydactyly, postaxial, type B, a common minor finding, from the list of potential malformations. RESULTS: Of note, 2.05% (n = 5,941) of the 289,365 births surveyed had one or more malformations. The abnormalities that would have been missed, using surface exam alone, accounted for 0.5% of all of malformations identified and reduced the overall prevalence rate of malformations to 1.5%. In addition, excluding all infants with isolated postaxial polydactyly, type B reduced the expected prevalence rate of malformations to 1.3% in unexposed newborn infants. CONCLUSION: A limited surface examination can detect the majority of malformations among newborn infants.

Rapid diagnosis of trisomy 13 of maternal origin by quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction analysis in a pregnancy with fetal holoprosencephaly, premaxillary agenesis, postaxial polydactyly of left hand and overriding aorta.

OBJECTIVE: We present rapid diagnosis of trisomy 13 of maternal origin by quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) in a pregnancy with multiple fetal abnormalities. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old, primigravid woman was referred for amniocentesis at 24 weeks of gestation because of multiple congenital anomalies in the fetus. Prenatal ultrasound at 23 weeks of gestation revealed holoprosencephaly, premaxillary agenesis, postaxial polydactyly of the left hand and overriding aorta. Amniocentesis was performed subsequently, and QF-PCR analysis using the polymorphic DNA markers of D13S789 (13q22.3), D13S790 (13q31.1) and D13S767 (13q31.3) on the DNA extracted from uncultured amniocytes and parental bloods showed trisomy 13 of maternal origin. Conventional cytogenetic analysis on the cultured amniocytes confirmed trisomy 13. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a malformed fetus was delivered with multiple anomalies consistent with the prenatal diagnosis. CONCLUSION: QF-PCR analysis is useful for rapid confirmation of trisomy 13 and the parental origin when prenatal ultrasound findings are suspicious of fetal trisomy 13.

Agnathia-synotia-microstomia (otocephaly): a case report in an African woman.

Pharyngeal arches appear in the 4th and 5th weeks of development of the human embryo. The 1st pharyngeal arch develops into the incus and malleus, premaxilla, maxilla, zygomatic bone; part of the temporal bone, the mandible and it contributes to the formation of bones of the middle ear. The musculature of the 1st pharyngeal arch includes muscles of mastication, anterior belly of the digastric mylohyoid, tensor tympani and tensor palatini. The second pharyngeal arch gives rise to the stapes, styloid process of the temporal bone, stylohyoid ligament, the lesser horn and upper part of the body of the hyoid bone. The stapedius muscle, stylohyoid, posterior belly of the digastric, auricular and muscles of facial expressional all derive from the 2nd pharyngeal arch. Otocephaly has been classified as a defect of blastogenesis, with structural defects primarily involving the first and second branchial arch derivatives. It may also result in dysmorphogenesis of other midline craniofacial field structures, such as the forebrain and axial body structures.

Laurin-Sandrow syndrome: review and redefinition.

We report on a newborn infant with characteristics of Laurin-Sandrow syndrome (LSS). She had hypertelorism, flat nose with grooved collumella, "V" shaped mouth with thin lips, 7 well-recognized and fused digits and 1 additional postaxial bilateral appendix on each hand. The right and left feet had 12 and 11 toes, respectively, the 4 external ones were recognizable, and the rest were fused in a uniform mass but with independent nails. There was also a 2.3 cm-long digitiform appendix in the internal part of both feet. Radiographs showed seven metacarpals and seven metatarsals with similar morphology; both hands lacking thumbs. The four lateral-most toes had regular shaped phalanges and the rest were irregular. The left digitiform appendix had three bones and the right only two. Tibiae were shorter than fibulae. Central Nervous System examination showed an abnormally shaped olivary nucleus, cerebellar cortical heterotopias, gray matter ectopias in both spinal cord and hemispheric white matter, marked ventricular dilatation, and moderate diffuse white matter gliosis. Karyotype was 46XX. A complete necropsy study is presented and all reported cases are reviewed focusing on their phenotypic differences and their nosologic classification. We propose the entity LSS only in cases with symmetric tetrameric polysyndactyly, especially cup-shaped hands and mirror feet, in association with nasal anomalies.

Polydactyly with ectodermal defect, osteopenia, and mental delay.

Five members from 3 generations, including a 35-year-old woman and her 2 sons, both mentally impaired to a different degree, were studied in a tertiary care hospital. Anamnestic, clinical, neurological, and radiological evaluations were used to describe phenotypes. A and B postaxial polydactyly, transmitted likely as autosomal dominant, was associated with an extensive variability of phenotypic features: (1) cutaneous syndactyly, (2) nail-teeth dysplasia, (3) osteopenia, and (4) mental delay. The likelihood that the constellation of observations we report here is caused by mutation of a single gene that subsequently affects multiple physiological activities, although fascinating, remains to be proven. Instead, we hypothesize that it likely develops as a contiguous gene syndrome.

An additional manifestation in acrocallosal syndrome: temporal lobe hypoplasia.

Acrocallosal Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which is characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation, agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and polydactyly of fingers and toes. The spectrum of this syndrome is very variable. Prominent forehead, broad nasal bridge, short nose and mandible, hypertelorism, epicanthic folds, large anterior fontanelle and tapered fingers, omphalocele and inguinal hernia are some other common findings in this syndrome. Twenty percent of the patients have associated brain abnormalities such as cerebral atrophy, hypothalamic dysfunction, small cerebrum, micropolygyria, hypoplasia of pons, hypoplasia of cerebellar hemispheres, hypoplasia of medulla oblongata, agenesis or hypoplasia of cerebellar vermis and corpus callosum abnormalities. Here we present a 10-month-old female infant with clinical and radiological findings indicative of acrocallosal syndrome. She was noted to have craniofacial abnormalities suggestive of acrocallosal syndrome, optic atrophy and polydactyly. MRI revealed cerebral atrophy, corpus callosum agenesis, dilated lateral ventricules and unilateral right temporal lobe hypoplasia, the latter not previously reported in the spectrum of this syndrome. Based on this observation we conclude the importance of screening brain abnormalities and present temporal lobe hypoplasia as a new additional anomaly in this syndrome.

Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome (chondro-ectodermal dysplasia) in two siblings.

Two male siblings aged 12 and 15 years (Figure 1) presented with growth retardation, limb abnormalities and, defective teeth and nail since childhood. There was no history of similar defects in other family members. On examination their height was 114 cm and 130 cm (expected height; 169 cm and 150 cm) respectively. There were hypoplastic and dystrophic nails, and microdontia and hypodontia on dental examination. There were post-axial polydactyly in both the hands and left foot. Skeletal survey revealed short forearms, legs & distal phalanges (Acromesomelia). Cardiac or other organ system defects were not noticed on clinical examination or echocardiogram. Clinical picture was suggestive of a diagnosis of Chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis van Creveld syndrome). These cases have been reported for their rarity and for the presence of some rare features of this syndrome.