RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and document the clinical characteristics of Williams-Beuren syndrome in the Hong Kong Chinese population. DESIGN: Cytogenetic analysis and retrospective study. SETTING: Clinical Genetic Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: Forty-one Chinese patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: From 1 January 1995 to 30 June 2002, fluorescence in situ hybridisation was used to confirm diagnoses in 41 cases of Williams-Beuren syndrome by detecting chromosome 7q microdeletion. Case records were reviewed, the incidence of the condition in the local population was estimated, and the main clinical characteristics were determined. RESULTS: The minimal incidence of Williams-Beuren syndrome in this locality was estimated to be approximately 1 per 23500 live births. Common dysmorphic facial features included periorbital fullness (83%), full lips (80%), a long philtrum (51%), a flat nasal bridge (41%), and abnormal teeth (37%). No patients had a stellate iris. The majority (82%) had at least one documented cardiac anomaly; among these patients, peripheral pulmonary stenosis was diagnosed in 61% and supravalvular aortic stenosis in 45%. Nearly all (93%) of the study group exhibited developmental delay. CONCLUSION: As in the West, patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome in the Hong Kong Chinese population display craniofacial dysmorphism, cardiovascular anomalies, and mental deficiency. Supravalvular aortic stenosis-the cardiac defect most commonly associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome in western countries-is less common than peripheral pulmonary stenosis in this region. Studies involving periodic cardiovascular evaluation are needed to confirm if this difference is significant.
Assuntos
Síndrome de Williams/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Estenose Aórtica Supravalvular/epidemiologia , Estenose Aórtica Supravalvular/genética , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Anormalidades Craniofaciais/epidemiologia , Anormalidades Craniofaciais/genética , Deficiências do Desenvolvimento/epidemiologia , Deficiências do Desenvolvimento/genética , Família , Feminino , Testes Genéticos , Transtornos do Crescimento/epidemiologia , Transtornos do Crescimento/genética , Hong Kong/epidemiologia , Humanos , Hipercalcemia/epidemiologia , Hipercalcemia/genética , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Estenose da Valva Pulmonar/epidemiologia , Estenose da Valva Pulmonar/genética , Estudos Retrospectivos , Síndrome de Williams/genéticaRESUMO
A novel coronavirus-associated communicable respiratory disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), spread worldwide after an outbreak in Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China in November 2002. Since late February 2003, there has been an epidemic in Hong Kong involving both adult and pediatric patients. The clinical course, intensive care, and outcome of adolescent twin sisters with SARS are described. Adolescents infected with SARS may develop severe illness as adults, and close monitoring for disease progression in terms of both clinical and radiologic deterioration is warranted.
