ABSTRACT
Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a heterogeneous syndrome which is characterized by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation and typical dysmorphic features. In 5-10% of SRS patients, a maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 (UPD7) can be detected. We describe a 4.5-y old boy. Physical examination at the age of 4.5 y was remarkable for small stature, relatively big head, triangular face, broad forehead, pointed chin and clinodactyly. He had hypopigmented macules on his back with no evidence of asymmetry/hemihypertrophy. Clinical diagnosis of Silver-Russell syndrome was made. Maternal UPD of chromosome 7 was found, confirming the diagnosis. Along with the clinical findings that are described in this syndrome he had moderate developmental delay which is not commonly found in these patients and underwent an autistic regression around the age of 2 years. This association has only once been described before in this syndrome. A possible explanation is that the autism is not a part of SRS but is due to the UPD. Our case suggests an association of autistic regression with a locus on chromosome 7.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/etiology , Autistic Disorder/genetics , Silver-Russell Syndrome/complications , Silver-Russell Syndrome/genetics , Trisomy/genetics , Uniparental Disomy/genetics , Child, Preschool , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7/genetics , Developmental Disabilities/etiology , Developmental Disabilities/genetics , Humans , Male , MosaicismABSTRACT
The prevalence of macrocephaly in autism spectrum disorder is reported to be much higher than in the general population, 12% to 37%. Progressive macrocephaly is even considered a warning sign for the development of autism. We evaluated the prevalence of an abnormal head circumference in children with autism in Israel and compared it with the head circumferences of children with developmental language disorder and children with normal development. We did not find a higher prevalence of macrocephaly among Israeli children with autism spectrum disorder (4.4%). Although children with autism spectrum disorder had a significantly higher rate of a head circumference above the 75th percentile compared with children with developmental language disorder, it was not significantly different compared with normal controls. We conclude that there is no increased prevalence of macrocephaly in Israeli children with autism; this can be attributed to a different genetic background.
