Expanding the phenotype of TAB2 variants and literature review.

TAB2 is a gene located on chromosome 6q25.1 and plays a key role in development of the heart. Existing literature describes congenital heart disease as a common recognized phenotype of TAB2 gene variants, with evidence of a distinct syndromic phenotype also existing beyond this. Here we describe 14 newly identified individuals with nine novel, pathogenic TAB2 variants. The majority of individuals were identified through the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study through trio whole exome sequencing. Eight individuals had de novo variants, the other six individuals were found to have maternally inherited, or likely maternally inherited, variants. Five individuals from the same family were identified following cardiac disease gene panel in the proband and subsequent targeted familial gene sequencing. The clinical features of this cohort were compared to the existing literature. Common clinical features include distinctive facial features, growth abnormalities, joint hypermobility, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Newly identified features included feeding difficulties, sleep problems, visual problems, genitourinary abnormality, and other anatomical variations. Here we report 14 new individuals, including novel TAB2 variants, in order to expand the emerging syndromic clinical phenotype and provide further genotype-phenotype correlation.

A female infant with Silver Russell Syndrome, mesocardia and enlargement of the clitoris.

Silver Russell Syndrome (SRS) is a rare condition (1/3000 - 1/100,000 newborns). We present a female infant with SRS, cardiac malposition and asymmetric enlargement of the clitoris. She is the first child of Greek nonconsanguinous parents, born at 38 weeks gestation, following in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The patient had intrauterine growth retardation, body asymmetry, enlarged clitoris, hemihypertrophy of external genitalia and features characteristic of SRS. Electrocardiography and chest X-rays revealed a median position of the heart. The infant fulfilled the criteria proposed by Price et al for SRS. Genetic analysis did not reveal mUPD of chromosome 7. This is the first report of a patient with SRS presenting ìmesocardiaî and asymmetric enlargement of the clitoris. Our case constitutes another paradigm of SRS following IVF, which possibly supports the hypothesis that IVF may be associated with higher prevalence of SRS than natural fertilisation.

An unexpected cause of vaginal bleeding: the role of pelvic radiography.

Vaginal bleeding and/or discharge in young girls may result from infection, urological problems, endocrine causes, bleeding disorders, dermatological conditions, trauma, sexual abuse, masses or foreign bodies. We report a case of excessive vaginal bleeding caused by a foreign body in a prepubertal girl with emphasis on the diagnostic challenges and pitfalls regarding imaging techniques. In our patient, although invasive and expensive investigations had been initially made, the foreign body was last detected only when a plain pelvic radiography was performed.

Growth hormone deficiency: an unusual presentation of floating harbor syndrome.

Floating-Harbor Syndrome (FHS) is a very rare condition of unknown etiology characterized by short stature, delayed bone age, characteristic facial features, delayed language skills and usually normal motor development. This syndrome has only once been associated with growth hormone deficiency and precocious puberty in the same patient. We describe a 5 4/12 year-old girl with the typical features of FHS in whom growth hormone deficiency was diagnosed and two years later central precocious puberty was noted. The patient showed a good response to human recombinant growth hormone as well as gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue treatment.