Search

Cranioectodermal dysplasia (CED) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder primarily characterized by craniofacial, skeletal, and ectodermal abnormalities. CED is a chondrodysplasia, which is part of a spectrum of clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases that result from disruptions in cilia. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding components of the ciliary transport machinery are known to cause CED. Intra- and interfamilial clinical variability has been reported in a few CED studies and the findings of this study align with these observations. Here, we report on five CED patients from four Polish families with identical compound heterozygous variants [c.1922T>G p.(Leu641Ter) and c.2522A>T; p.(Asp841Val)] in WDR35. The frequent occurrence of both identified changes in Polish CED families suggests that these variants may be founder mutations. Clinical evaluation of the CED patients revealed interfamilial clinical variability among the patients. This includes differences in skeletal and ectodermal features as well as variability in development, progression, and severity of renal and liver insufficiency. This is the first report showing significant interfamilial clinical variability in a series of CED patients from unrelated families with identical compound heterozygous variants in WDR35. Our findings strongly indicate that other genetic and non-genetic factors may modulate the progression and expression of the patients' phenotypes., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The ciliary chondrodysplasias represent a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that affect skeleton development. Cilia are organelles that project from the surface of many cell types and play an important role during prenatal and postnatal human development. Cranioectodermal dysplasia (Sensenbrenner syndrome, CED) is a ciliopathy primarily characterized by craniofacial, skeletal, and ectodermal abnormalities. To date six genes have been associated with CED: IFT122, WDR35, WDR19, IFT140, IFT43, and IFT52. Prenatal diagnosis of CED is challenging, and genetic testing can facilitate making a correct diagnosis. Here, we report on a family with two male siblings affected by CED: a 3.5 year-old patient and his 2 year-old brother. Molecular analysis of the proband at 1 year of age revealed compound heterozygous variants in WDR35: c.3G>A [p.(Met1-Ala30delinsMetfsTer4)] and c.2522A>T [p.(Asp841Val)]. Ultrasound examination during the second pregnancy revealed an increased nuchal translucency of 4.5 mm and a hypoplastic nasal bone at 12 weeks of gestation. Prenatal diagnostic testing was offered because of an increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities and recurrence risk for CED. Prenatal genetic analysis of a chorionic villus sample detected the WDR35 variants previously identified in the elder brother. This is the first report of a prenatal genetic diagnosis in CED., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)