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Noonan Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines (NSML-formerly known as LEOPARD syndrome) is a rare autosomal dominant condition that usually exhibits cardiac involvement with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Here we present a case of a NSML patient with an unusual and patchy cardiac hypertrophy distribution., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Purpose: To report a case of Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines with unusual ocular features., Methods: The authors describe a case of a 7-year-old girl with Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines and anomalous optic disks., Results: A 7-year-old girl with genetically proven Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines ( PTPN11 gene mutation) and anomalous optic disks was referred for treatment of persistent macular detachment after 1 year of conservative follow-up. The right eye demonstrated an optic disk coloboma with the best-corrected visual acuity of 20/32, the left eye demonstrated an optic disk pit with serous macular detachment (best-corrected visual acuity 20/50-20/80). Optical coherence tomography demonstrated a neurosensory detachment. Twenty-five gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed with posterior hyaloid detachment, drainage over disk pit area, and SF6 20% gas tamponade. Surgery resulted in subretinal fluid reduction and improvement of the visual acuity to 20/32., Conclusion: A case of Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines with optic disk coloboma in the right eye and optic disk pit with related maculopathy in the left eye. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case describing the association of Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines and congenital optic disk anomalies. Optic disk pit maculopathy was managed surgically because of its longstanding nature with the deteriorating visual acuity., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Opthalmic Communications Society, Inc.)

Background: Noonan Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines (NSML) and Noonan Syndrome (NS) can be difficult to differentiate clinically in early childhood. This study aims to describe characteristics of the ventricular septum that may differentiate NSML from NS. We hypothesize that the shape of the ventricular septum determined by echocardiography correlates with genotype and may distinguish patients with NSML from those with NS., Methods: We analyzed data from 17 NSML and 67 NS patients. Forty normal and 30 sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients were included as controls. Septal morphology was qualitatively evaluated, and septal angle was measured quantitatively at end diastole. We recorded the presence of a ventricular septal bulge (VSB) and reviewed genetic testing results for each patient., Results: The most important findings were a sigmoid septum (71%) and VSB (71%) in NSML. NSML septal angle was decreased compared to the normal and sarcomeric HCM control groups, respectively (149 ± 13 vs. 177 ± 3, p < 0.001; 149 ± 13 vs. 172 ± 7, p < 0.001). NS septal angle was similar to the controls (176 ± 6 vs. 177 ± 3, p > 0.5; 176 ± 6 vs. 172 ± 7, p > 0.5). NSML-linked pathogenic variants were associated with sigmoid septum and VSB., Conclusions: These findings provide novel phenotypic evidence to clinicians that may offer incremental diagnostic value in counseling families in ambiguous NSML/NS cases., Impact: Characteristics of the ventricular septum are linked to specific gene variants that cause NSML and NS. Sigmoid septum and VSB are associated with NSML. This novel echocardiographic association may help clinicians distinguish NSML from NS in ambiguous cases. Early distinction between the two may be important, as syndrome-specific therapies may become available in the near future. This study may encourage further research into genotype-phenotype associations in other forms of HCM., (© 2020. International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Multiple lentigines syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited condition with variable expressivity that is also known as LEOPARD syndrome. LEOPARD stands for lentigines, electrocardiographic conduction defects, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary valve stenosis, abnormalities of genitalia, retardation of growth, and deafness. LEOPARD syndrome most frequently develops secondary to a missense mutation of protein-tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 11 gene, which encodes tyrosine phosphatase. The missense mutation p.Tyr279Cys can either occur as a de novo mutation or affect multiple family members. Although hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not part of the LEOPARD acronym, it is the most frequent cardiac anomaly observed in this syndrome. The recognition of increased left or right ventricular wall thickness in patients with LEOPARD syndrome may have significant impact on their clinical course similar to classic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which may require septal reduction procedures for relief of left or right ventricular outflow tract obstruction or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement for sudden cardiac death prevention. We describe a case series of a family with diffuse lentigines and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in which the son carries the protein-tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 11 (p.Tyr279Cys) gene mutation and both the son and daughter underwent left ventricular myectomy at an early age. In conclusion, our case series of a family with LEOPARD syndrome illustrates the importance of recognizing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as part of this syndrome., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that presents with cardio-cutaneous-craniofacial defects. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) represents the major life-threatening presentation in NSML. Mutations in the PTPN11 gene that encodes for the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), SHP2, represents the predominant cause of HCM in NSML. NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations render SHP2 catalytically inactive with an "open" conformation. NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations cause hypertyrosyl phosphorylation of the transmembrane glycoprotein, protein zero-related (PZR), resulting in increased SHP2 binding. Here we show that NSML mice harboring a tyrosyl phosphorylation-defective mutant of PZR (NSML/PZRY242F) that is defective for SHP2 binding fail to develop HCM. Enhanced AKT/S6 kinase signaling in heart lysates of NSML mice was reversed in NSML/PZRY242F mice, demonstrating that PZR/SHP2 interactions promote aberrant AKT/S6 kinase activity in NSML. Enhanced PZR tyrosyl phosphorylation in the hearts of NSML mice was found to drive myocardial fibrosis by engaging an Src/NF-κB pathway, resulting in increased activation of IL-6. Increased expression of IL-6 in the hearts of NSML mice was reversed in NSML/PZRY242F mice, and PZRY242F mutant fibroblasts were defective for IL-6 secretion and STAT3-mediated fibrogenesis. These results demonstrate that NSML-associated PTPN11 mutations that induce PZR hypertyrosyl phosphorylation trigger pathophysiological signaling that promotes HCM and cardiac fibrosis.

Background: Animal studies suggested that blocking the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway might be effective to treat cardiac hypertrophy in LEOPARD syndrome (LS) caused by PTPN11 mutations., Results: In the present study, mTOR pathway activity was examined in human myocardial samples from two patients with LS, four patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and four normal controls. The two patients with LS had p.Y279C and p.T468 M mutations of the PTPN11 gene, respectively. Although PTPN11 mutation showed initially positive regulation on phosphoinositide 3-kinase, overall the mTOR complex 1 pathway showed widely attenuated activity in LS. This included mildly hypophosphorylated mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase and significantly hypophosphorylated Akt 308 and ribosomal protein S6, which is similar to HCM. Akt 473 is a basal molecule of the mTOR complex 2 pathway. Akt 473 was less affected and showed hyperactivity in LS compared with HCM and normal controls. Additionally, MAPK/ERK kinase and ERK1/2 were significantly more phosphorylated in both HCM and LS than normal controls., Conclusions: In LS, the mTOR signaling pathway shows similar activity to HCM and is attenuated compared with normal controls. Thus, caution should be applied when using rapamycin to treat heart hypertrophy in LS.

Background: A 9-year-old Arabic boy attending middle school presented with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation recorded by Holter electrocardiographic monitoring. He had a background history of Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (also known as LEOPARD syndrome), a rare condition of autosomal dominant inheritance with approximately 200 cases reported worldwide., Case Presentation: Apart from characteristic features, the boy was known to have asymmetric septal hypertrophy with a maximum wall thickness of 24 mm measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. A day prior to the event, he attended cardiology follow-up at our institution, and Holter monitoring was commenced. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation by bystanders and paramedics, he reverted back into sinus rhythm after a total downtime of 24 min. He was initially treated in the intensive care unit and underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation. He has made a full recovery and remains at the top of his class., Conclusion: This case demonstrates that sudden cardiac arrest in patients with secondary forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not necessarily protected by apparently favorable phenotypes and that events may be preceded by non-sustained ventricular tachycardia observed by Holter monitoring. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation plays a critical role in both primary and secondary prevention in patients at high risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Introduction LEOPARD syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterised by lentigines, electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormal genitalia, retardation of growth and sensorineural deafness. Clinical manifestations are often mild, which may result in difficult and late diagnosis. Cardiac involvement may have a significant impact on the prognosis, however, appearance of severe abnormalities such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually precedes the occurrence of multiple lentigines and may be asymptomatic. Case presentation We report two cases of LEOPARD syndrome with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy. In both cases, multiple lentigines, ocular hypertelorism and growth retardation were present. The first patient was followed up at the paediatric cardiology clinic due to the risk of progression of septal hypertrophy and pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract, the second patient underwent surgery for a moderate obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract with uncomplicated post-operative follow-up. Conclusion In both presented patients, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was clinically silent and the murmur over the precordium was the sole cardiac abnormality revealed during routine visit. A detailed cardiologic examination should be considered in the patients with suspicion of LEOPARD syndrome since the ventricular hypertrophy is thought to precede the occurrence of lentigines and progress over time.

We present a 3-year old boy with Leopard syndrome. His clinical manifestations included a congenital bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. He underwent cochlear implantation on the right side at age 1 year and on the left side at age 1.5 years. The patient is doing very well and mainstreamed in a regular pre-school program with a teacher of the deaf and home based speech therapy. Bilateral cochlear implantation in the case of a child with Leopard syndrome can be successful., (Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

A sixteen year old girl presented with history of hemoptysis of one week duration. She had history of dyspnea on exertion and frequent respiratory infections in childhood. She had short stature, hypertelorism, neurofibroma, café au lait spots and multiple lentigines. She had features of severe pulmonary hypertension and differential clubbing and cyanosis. A final diagnosis of LEOPARD syndrome with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) Eisenmenger syndrome was made.

Systemic conditions may have pigmentary associations. Prompt recognition of these associations allows the practitioner to initiate the appropriate workup and therapy when indicated. This contribution highlights some of the clinical features of neurofibromatosis 1, LEOPARD syndrome, acanthosis nigricans, hypomelanosis of Ito, incontinentia pigmenti, CHILD syndrome, and piebaldism to assist the dermatologist in making the proper diagnosis., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Noonan syndrome (NS) and other syndromes with a similar phenotype, such as LEOPARD, cardiofaciocutaneous, Costello and Legius, are associated to mutations in genes included in the RAS/MAPK pathway (RASopathies), which is an important signalling pathway related to cell proliferation. Tonsillar descent into the upper cervical spinal canal, known as Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM), has been reported in patients with NS and this has led some researchers to suggest that ACM could be part of the phenotypic spectrum of NS. We report two cases of NS and ACM., Case Reports: Case 1: 29-year-old female with Noonan phenotype who underwent surgery at the age of nine years due to pulmonary valve stenosis. At the age of 27, she presented symptomatic ACM that required surgical decompression. She presented the c.922A>G (N308D) mutation in the gene PTPN that belongs to the RAS/MAPK pathway. Case 2: a 10-year-old female with Noonan phenotype and asymptomatic ACM detected in magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. She was a carrier of the c.923A>G (N308S) mutation in gene PTPN11., Conclusions: Six patients with this association have been found in the literature, four with the Noonan phenotype and two with LEOPARD. Our two patients provide supplementary evidence that backs up the hypothesis by which ACM would be part of the phenotypic spectrum of NS. The small number of reported cases of patients with this association does not allow us to draw up recommendations about when and how often neuroimaging studies should be performed; a careful neurological examination, however, should be included in the anticipatory health guidelines in syndromes involving the RAS/MAPK pathway.

Background: LEOPARD syndrome (LS) belongs to the family of neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes, which include Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1), Noonan syndrome, Costello Syndrome, cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome, Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair and Legius syndrome. These conditions are caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in the RAS-MAPK cellular pathway. Clinical heterogeneity and phenotype overlaps across those different syndromes is already recognized., Case Presentation: We hereby report a heterozygous de novo mutation in the PTPN11 gene (c.1403C > T) manifesting with a clinical picture of LS during childhood, and later development of neuropathic pain with hypertrophic plexi, which are typically observed in NF1 but have not been reported in LS., Conclusion: LS caused by PTPN11 mutations may be associated with hypertrophic roots and plexi. Consequently, clinicians should be aware of the possible development of neuropathic pain and consider specific diagnostic work-up and management.

Medulloblastoma is the commonest brain tumor in childhood and in a minority of patients is associated with an underlying genetic disorder such as Gorlin syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis. Increased susceptibility to certain tumors, including neuroblastoma and some hematological malignancies, is recognized in disorders caused by mutations in genes encoding components of the RAS signaling pathway which include Noonan syndrome, Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML; formerly called LEOPARD syndrome), Costello syndrome, Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Legius syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), collectively termed RASopathies. Although an association between medulloblastoma and NF1 has been reported, this tumor has not previously been reported in other RASopathies. We present a patient with NSML caused by the recurrent PTPN11 mutation c.1403C > T (p.Thr468Met) in whom medulloblastoma was diagnosed at age 10 years. Medulloblastoma could therefore be part of the tumor spectrum associated with this disorder., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction and Objectives: LEOPARD syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition related to Noonan syndrome, although it occurs less frequently. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical and molecular features of a large series of LEOPARD syndrome patients., Methods: We collected clinical data from 19 patients in 10 hospitals. Bidirectional sequencing analysis of PTPN11, RAF1, and BRAF focused on exons carrying recurrent mutations., Results: After facial dysmorphism, structural heart defects (88%) were the most common feature described. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (71%) was diagnosed more often than pulmonary valve stenosis (35%). Multiple lentigines or café au lait spots were found in 84% of the series, and deafness was diagnosed in 3 patients. Mutations in PTPN11 were identified in 16 (84%) patients (10 patients had the recurrent LEOPARD syndrome mutation, p.Thr468Met) (NP&#95;002825.3T468M). Two other patients had a mutation in RAF, and 1 patient had a mutation in BRAF. When compared with other neurocardiofaciocutaneous syndromes, LEOPARD syndrome patients showed a higher prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cutaneous abnormalities, and a lower prevalence of pulmonary valve stenosis and short stature., Conclusions: LEOPARD syndrome patients display distinctive features apart from multiple lentigines, such as a higher prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and lower prevalence of short stature. Given its clinical implications, active search for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is warranted in Noonan syndrome spectrum patients, especially in LEOPARD syndrome patients., (Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

The LEOPARD syndrome is a rare hereditary disorder in Asian countries. This syndrome involves complex malformations and other features. Though the LEOPARD syndrome is rare, diagnosis is important since it can be related with serious cardiac ailments. Patients must be followed up regularly in order to reduce the risk of sudden death which is the most severe complication. The study presents the case of a 23-year-old woman who had dyspnoea on daily exercises. She had multiple lentigines, cardiac anomalies (apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary stenosis), ocular hypertelorism and abnormal electrocardiographic findings. Based on the findings, the patient was diagnosed with the LEOPARD syndrome.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a tumor predisposing disorder. Leukemia is observed in 1-3% of patients with NS, with rare occurrences of solid tumors. It also appears to predispose to non-malignant tumors. We report on a 26-year-old female with features of Noonan syndrome-Multiple Lentigines and a heterozygous mutation: c.1517A > C-p.Gln506Pro in the PTPN11 gene. The patient developed an unusual extensive lipomatosis and we discuss possible relationship between her lipomatosis and NS., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The RAS/MAPK disorders [Noonan syndrome, cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome, Costello syndrome, and Leopard syndrome] are heterogenous conditions with phenotypic overlap. Their orthopaedic manifestations are not well defined, and their phenotypic similarity makes differentiating them difficult., Methods: We prospectively evaluated 60 individuals: 26 with Noonan syndrome, 32 with CFC syndrome, and 2 with Costello syndrome. Each individual underwent a structured orthopaedic history and physical evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon, and a syndromic evaluation by a geneticist., Results: All groups had a high prevalence of scoliosis (8/26 Noonan syndrome, 8/32 CFC syndrome, and 1/2 Costello). Those with Noonan syndrome or CFC syndrome had a high instance of serious cervical spine disorders, including cervical stenosis, Arnold-Chiari malformation, and syringomyelia in the Noonan syndrome individuals and hydrocephalus, cervical stenosis, torticollis, and Arnold-Chiari in the CFC syndrome individuals. Noonan syndrome manifestations included chronic pain (n=21), pes planus (n=11), pes cavus (n=5), hip contractures (n=5), hand dysfunction (n=3), and hip dysplasia (n=2). Manifestations of CFC syndrome included pes planovalgus (n=20), knee flexion contractures (n=7), hip dysplasia (n=5), elbow flexion contractures (n=4), pedal calluses (n=4), toe crowding (n=4), and hip contractures (n=4). Individuals with Costello syndrome had shorter stature than the other groups and were prone to have hand contractures., Conclusions: Orthopaedic manifestations are frequent and diverse in Ras/MAPK disorders and can be used in phenotypic differentiation between these disorders., Level of Evidence: II.

LEOPARD syndrome (LS) is a rare inherited autosomal dominant disease with high penetrance and markedly variable expression characterized by a spectrum of somatic abnormalities. In 1971, Gorlin proposed the well-known acronym LEOPARD (lentigines, electrocardiographic abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormalities of the genitalia, retardation of growth, deafness). The nature and clinical importance of cardiovascular phenotypes associated with LS remain uncertain, because few patients with the disease have undergone comprehensive cardiac evaluations. To date, 200 cases have been described and one review has been published. We emphasize that this case is exceptional insofar as life expectancy was longer than other LEOPARD syndrome cases described in previous reports; these have had an early mortality due to cardiopathies. The aim of our study is to report a rare case of a patient affected with LEOPARD syndrome, survived until 67 years with cutaneous associations never described in literature.

LEOPARD syndrome (LS) is a heterogeneous disease characterised mainly by cutaneous manifestations. LEOPARD is the acronym for its major features-multiple lentigines, electrocardiographic conduction defects, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormalities of (male) genitalia, retardation of growth and sensorineural deafness. As clinical manifestations are variable, molecular testing is supportive in the diagnosis of LS. We describe two unrelated LS cases with a common PTPN11 mutation Y279C and with completely different clinical features including distinct changes in skin pigmentation. In patient 1, the first complaint was hyperactive behaviour. First lentigines were presented at birth, but intensive growth began at the age of 2-4 years. Multiple dark lentigines were located mainly on the face and the upper part of the trunk, but the oral mucosa was spared. Patient 2 was born from induced labour due to polyhydramnion, and in the second week of life, mitral valve insufficiency and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were diagnosed. Rapid growth of lentigines began at the age of 3 years. These are mostly located in the joint areas in the lower extremities; the face and upper trunk are spared from lentigines. In both cases, the rapid growth of lentigines made it possible to shift the diagnosis towards LS. Clinicians should give more consideration to rare genetic syndromes, especially in the case of symptoms from different clinical areas.

A case of acute predominantly axonal motor and sensory neuropathy (AMSAN) is reported in a 16-year-old boy with LEOPARD syndrome (the acronym represents lentigines, ECG conduction abnormalities, ocular hypertelorism, pulmonic stenosis, abnormal genitalia, retardation of growth, and sensorineural deafness). The presentation was atypical for acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy, in that this patient had progression of symptoms of more than 4 weeks and there were signs of reinnervation in the acute phase. Treatment response to intravenous immunoglobulins was excellent. In patients with LEOPARD syndrome and acute neuropathies, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins should be considered., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The overall risk of cancer in children with Noonan (NS), cardio-facial-cutaneous, Costello or LEOPARD syndrome is high, although no precise estimates are available. There are few data on cancer in adults with NS, but the reported numbers of malignancies in adults do not seem excessive. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare aggressive leukemia in young children. A JMML-like myeloproliferative disorder has been described in about 30 neonates with NS and the PTPN11 mutation. The disorder often regresses spontaneously, but fatal complications may occur. A review of the literature indicates an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia in NS. Young children with Costello syndrome have an extremely high risk of rhabdomyosarcoma, and also an increased risk of neuroblastoma and bladder carcinoma. Registry-based studies of patients with NS and related disorders diagnosed with molecular genetics and a high-quality long-term follow-up are necessary to further estimate the incidence of malignancy., (2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Here we report on a patient with multiple lentigines, hypertelorism, short stature, arachnodactyly, scoliosis, dissecting aneurysm, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and developmental delay, and a family history of Marfan syndrome. The patient is affected with both Marfan and LEOPARD syndromes. Mutational screening of the FBN1 gene showed a c.1464T>A (p.C488X) mutation and screening of the PTPN11 gene showed a c.836A>G (p.Y279C) mutation. We conclude that each mutation contributed independently to individual features in the ocular and cardiovascular systems, although short stature was more significantly influenced by the p.Y279C change in PTPN11 rather than the mutation in FBN1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mutations in both FBN1 and PTPN11 with combined phenotypes of Marfan and LEOPARD syndromes.

We report on a 2-year-old boy with facial dysmorphism, multiple lentigines, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Mutation analyses of the patient and his mother revealed a Y279G mutation in exon 7 of the PTPN11 gene. The presence of LEOPARD syndrome was confirmed by a genetic study and clinical phenotypes. Since age 18 months, the patient had manifested frequent seizures that were poorly controlled by multiple anticonvulsants. Neurologic examinations indicated severe developmental delay and sensorineural deafness. Brain imaging demonstrated open-lip schizencephaly in the right frontoparietal area. Central nervous system anomalies are rarely reported in this disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of LEOPARD syndrome with associated schizencephaly. Psychomotor retardation is not uncommon in LEOPARD syndrome. We advocate brain-imaging studies of patients with LEOPARD syndrome and neurologic abnormalities such as developmental delay or epilepsy.

We describe an uncommon association between Leopard syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a 27-year-old woman, who was little symptomatic and came for sudden death risk stratification and prevention. She has a rare syndrome, whose symptoms are maculae over the body and abnormalities in eyes, genital organs, heart and in growth. Association of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with sudden death risk factors determined the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention.

The LEOPARD syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant, multisystem disease involving the skin, skeletal and cardiovascular systems. Echocardiography including stress testing was used in a patient with LEOPARD syndrome and recurrent syncope to reveal the hemodynamic relevance of a giant aneurysm of the interventricular membraneous septum ballooning into the right ventricular outflow tract. This case impressively underlines the vital necessity of dynamic testing particularly in patients with symptoms during exercise even if these symptoms might be addressed to other findings.

We report a patient with a clinical and molecular diagnosis of LEOPARD syndrome (LS) associated with multiple granular cell tumors (MGCT). Bidirectional sequencing of exons 7, 12, and 13 of the PTPN11 gene revealed the T468M missense mutation in exon 12. This mutation has been previously reported in patients with LS. To our knowledge, this is the first report of MGCT associated with molecularly characterized LS and provides the first molecular evidence linking granular cell tumors (GCT) to the Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. We propose that MGCT can be associated with LS. Analysis of GCT from this case tested negatively for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the PTPN11 and NF1 loci and did not show deletions of the PTEN gene. The absence of LOH of PTPN11 supports published functional data that T468M is a dominant-negative mutation.

Introduction: The authors present a 31-year-old man with a Chiari type I malformation (CM-1) occurring in conjunction with LEOPARD syndrome. He presented with severe dysphagia requiring placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. Evaluation included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and cervical spine that revealed CM-1 with an extensive cervical syrinx. The patient underwent a suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy and duraplasty. His symptoms quickly resolved and his PEG tube was removed., Discussion: The occurrence of a CM-1 with LEOPARD syndrome has only been reported once, whereas CM-1 and Noonan syndrome have been linked in several cases. The similarity between LEOPARD and Noonan syndromes has been reported and many propose they represent 2 entities along a spectrum., Conclusion: In light of this spectrum, we propose that CM-1 should be considered in all patients presenting with LEOPARD-Noonan syndrome.

Background: Several clinical and echocardiographic studies describe morphological and functional findings in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Less is known regarding morphological and functional characteristics of the left ventricular hypertrophy found in the setting of the Noonan and LEOPARD syndromes., Objective: To compare non-invasively the morphological and functional findings potentially affecting symptoms and clinical outcome in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as opposed to Noonan and LEOPARD syndromes., Patients and Methods: We studied by echo-Doppler 62 children with left ventricular hypertrophy, dividing them into two subgroups matched for age and body surface area. The first group, of 45 patients with a mean age of 7.5 +/- 5.2 years and body surface area of 0.9 +/- 0.44 mq, had idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The second group, of 17 patients, all had left ventricular hypertrophy in the setting of Noonan or LEOPARD syndromes. Their mean age was 6.6 +/- 5 years, and body surface area was 0.8 +/- 0.36 mq. In all patients, we assessed the left ventricular maximal mural thickness, expressed as a Z-score, along with any obstructions in the left and right ventricular outflow tracts. In addition, to define left ventricular diastolic function, we used mitral flow and pulsed Tissue Doppler to record the Ea, Aa, Ea/Aa, E/Ea indexes in the apical 4-chamber view at the lateral corner of the mitral annulus. We also measured the diameters of the coronary arteries in the diastolic frame., Results: Compared to those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, those with syndromic left ventricular hypertrophy showed a significantly increased Z-score for mural thickness, and a higher prevalence of obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract. In addition, the patients with Noonan or LEOPARD syndromes showed a significantly decrease of Ea and increase of Aa, with a decreased Ea/Aa ratio, all suggestive of left ventricular abnormal relaxation. Moreover, the E/Ea ratio was significantly increased in these patients. The presence of right ventricular hypertrophy, mainly associated with dynamic obstruction in the outflow tract, was detected in only 5 of the 17 patients with Noonan or LEOPARD syndromes, as was dilation of the coronary arteries., Conclusions: Compared to children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, those with left ventricular hypertrophy in the setting of Noonan or LEOPARD syndromes show more ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, due to both abnormal relaxation and reduced compliance. They also exhibit an increased prevalence of obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, along with dynamic obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract and dilated coronary arteries. These morphological and functional findings could explain the different symptoms and clinical events, and potentially define the more appropriate therapeutic options in children with left ventricular hypertrophy of different aetiology.

Germline mutations in PTPN11 gene cause Noonan syndrome and the clinically similar LEOPARD syndrome (LS). LS is a rare congenital developmental disorder characterized by multiple lentigines, cardiac abnormalities, facial dysmorphism, retardation of growth, and deafness. Mutations in exons 7 and 12 of the PTPN11 gene can be identified in nearly 90% of patients with LS. PTPN11 gene encodes for an ubiquitously expressed protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 involved in a variety of intracellular signaling processes in development and hematopoiesis. Somatic PTPN11 mutations contribute to leukemogenesis in children with hematologic malignancies including juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplasia. Two cases of leukemia (acute myeloid leukemia) have been reported in children with LS. The authors describe for the first time a girl with genetically confirmed LEOPARD syndrome presenting with common acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We report severe brain calcification in a case of LEOPARD syndrome that has not been reported in the literature. A 53-year-old Japanese man presented with generalized lentigines, arrhythmia, gonadal hypoplasia, endocrine abnormality, mental retardation and skeletal abnormalities, and was consequently diagnosed as LEOPARD syndrome. Brain computed tomography demonstrated surprisingly dense and symmetric calcifications in the cerebellar dentate nuclei, cerebral basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebral white matter. It may be an incidental idiopathic calcification. Alternatively it may be a rare clinical manifestation of LEOPARD syndrome.

The aim of this study was to characterize cardiovascular involvement in a large number of patients with LEOPARD syndrome. Twenty-six patients (age range 0 to 63 years, median age at the time of the study evaluation 17 years) underwent clinical and genetic investigations. Familial disease was ascertained in 9 patients. Nineteen patients (73%) showed electrocardiographic abnormalities. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy was present in 19 patients (73%), including 9 with LV outflow tract obstructions; right ventricular hypertrophy was present in 8 patients (30%). Valve (57%) and coronary artery (15%) anomalies were also observed. Single patients showed LV apical aneurysm, LV noncompaction, isolated LV dilation, and atrioventricular canal defect. During follow-up (9.1 +/- 4.5 years), 2 patients died suddenly, and 2 patients had cardiac arrest. These patients had LV hypertrophy. Despite the limited number of subjects studied, genotype-phenotype correlations were observed in familial cases. In conclusion, most patients with LEOPARD syndrome showed LV hypertrophy, often in association with other valvular or congenital defects. A spectrum of underrecognized cardiac anomalies were also observed. Long-term prognosis was benign, but the occurrence of 4 fatal events in patients with LV hypertrophy indicates that such patients require careful risk assessment and, in some cases, consideration for prophylaxis against sudden death.

We report the sudden cardiac death of a young male presenting with classic clinical features of LEOPARD syndrome, shown to be due to a mutation in the PTPN11 gene, and severe non obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We also discuss briefly the usefulness of prophylactic risk stratification in patients with syndromic and non syndromic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.