Chromosomal imbalance letter
A 6 Mb deletion in band 2q22 due to a complex chromosome rearrangement associated with severe psychomotor retardation, microcephaly and distinctive dysmorphic facial features

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Abstract

High-resolution analyses of complex chromosome rearrangements (CCR) have demonstrated in individuals with abnormal phenotypes that not all seemingly balanced CCRs based on G-banding are completely balanced at breakpoint level. Here we report on an apparently balanced de novo CCR involving chromosomes 2, 3 and 5 present in a 6-month-old girl. She was referred for genetic evaluation because of severe psychomotor retardation, distinctive dysmorphic features and microcephaly. A 1 Mb resolution array-CGH analysis of DNA from the patient revealed a deletion of about 6 Mb for chromosome 2. FISH analysis showed that the deletion interval found in band 2q22 mapped at the translocation breakpoint, and that the ZFHX1B gene, which is known to be involved in the Mowat–Wilson syndrome, is located within the deletion interval.

To our knowledge this is the first case of a complex chromosomal rearrangement associated with Mowat–Wilson syndrome. Our data illustrate the important role for high-resolution investigation of apparently balanced chromosome rearrangements in patients with unexplained psychomotor retardation and/or other clinical features, and should contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms involved in chromosome rearrangement.

Section snippets

Chromosome analysis

Conventional karyotyping based on GTG-banding was performed using standard methods on metaphases from peripheral blood. This analysis revealed a complex chromosomal rearrangement with three breakpoints including chromosomes 2, 3 and 5 (Fig. 1). The patients karyotype was therefore 46,XX,t(2;3;5)(q21.3;q12;q13.3). Based on G-banding analysis the translocation seemed to be balanced.

Array-CGH

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization analysis (array-CGH) was performed in DNA from peripheral blood from

Clinical description

A girl was examined at the age of 6 months because of severe psychomotor retardation. After an uneventful pregnancy and delivery, her weight at birth was 3.4 kg, her length was 64.5 cm (−1 SDS) and the head circumference was 39.5 cm (−2 SDS). Physical examination revealed microcephaly, spastic tetraparesis, strabismus, marked hypertelorism, frontal bossing, large uplifted earlobes and a broad nasal tip (Fig. 3). There were difficulties in making eye contact with her but she easily laughed. An MRI of

Discussion

Array-CGH was used to investigate a potential DNA imbalance in a patient with unexplained psychomotor retardation and dysmorphic features. Previous routine clinical cytogenetic investigation revealed an apparently balanced complex de novo 3-way translocation involving chromosomes 2, 3 and 5. Array-CGH revealed a 6 Mb deletion at band 2q22 and FISH analysis confirmed that the deletion is at the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 2. The rearrangement therefore, harbours a cryptic microdeletion

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