Chromothripsis is characterized by shattering and subsequent reassembly of chromosomes by DNA repair processes, which can give rise to a variety of congenital abnormalities and cancer. Constitutional chromothripsis is a rare occurrence, reported in children presenting with a wide range of birth defects. We present a case of a female child born with multiple major congenital abnormalities including severe microcephaly, ocular dysgenesis, heart defect, and imperforate anus. Chromosomal microarray and mate pair sequencing identified a complex chromosomal rearrangement involving the terminal end of the long arm of chromosome 2, with two duplications (located at 2p25.3-p25.1 and 2q35-q37.2 regions) and two deletions (located at 2q37.2-q37.3 and 2q37.3 regions) along with structural changes including inverted segments. A review of the literature for complex rearrangements on chromosome 2 revealed overlapping features; however, our patient had a significantly more severe phenotype which resulted in early death at the age of 2 years. Breakpoints analysis did not reveal the involvement of any candidate genes. We concluded that the complexity of the genomic rearrangement and the combined dosage/structural effect of these copy number variants are likely explanations for the severe presentation in our patient.
Concurrent microduplication and microdeletion of the chromosome 22q11.2 region are a rarely reported phenomenon. We describe a case of germline 22q11.21 microduplication syndrome with concurrent mosaic 22q11.2 deletion in a pregnant patient, identified by chromosomal microarray and FISH after noninvasive prenatal genetic screening (cfDNA) results discordant with family history. The patient was referred to maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) at 14 weeks' gestation secondary to an SNP-based cfDNA result of a suspected maternal 22q11.2 deletion and a fetal risk of 1 in 2 for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The patient reported a similar cfDNA result in a previous pregnancy; however postnatal chromosomal microarray on that child identified an atypical 22q11.21 microduplication. We report the maternal chromosomal microarray findings of a germline 726 kb 22q11.21 duplication and a mosaic 1.33 Mb 22q11.2 deletion and highlight the copy number variant data generated by cfDNA in this unique case. This family adds to the limited literature of concurrent 22q11.2 microduplication and microdeletion carriers.
Bromodomain and PHD finger containing 1 (BRPF1)-related neurodevelopmental disorder is characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, hypotonia, dysmorphic facial features, ptosis, and blepharophimosis. Both de novo and inherited pathogenic variants have been previously reported in association with this disorder. We report two affected female siblings with a novel variant in BRPF1 c.2420_2433del (p.Q807Lfs∗27) identified through whole-exome sequencing. Their history of mild intellectual disability, speech delay, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and ptosis align with the features previously reported in the literature. The absence of the BRPF1 variant in parental buccal samples provides evidence of a de novo frameshift pathogenic variant, most likely as a result of parental gonadal mosaicism, which has not been previously reported. The frameshift pathogenic variant reported here lends further support to haploinsufficiency as the underlying mechanism of disease. We review the literature, compare the clinical features seen in our patients with others reported, and explore the possibility of genotype-phenotype correlation based on the location of pathogenic variants in BRPF1. Our study helps to summarize available knowledge and report the first case of a de novo frameshift pathogenic variant in BRPF1 in two siblings with this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Introduction: There is evidence that neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Current genetic testing can clinch an exact diagnosis in 20-25% of such cases. Case Description. A 3 years and 11 months old boy with global developmental delay had repetitive behaviors and hyperkinetic movements. He was stunted and underweight. He had ataxia, limb dyskinesia, triangular face, microcephaly, upward slanting palpebral fissure, hypertelorism, retrognathia, posteriorly rotated ears, long philtrum, thin lips, broad nasal tip, polydactyly, tappering fingers, and decreased tone in the upper and lower limbs with normal deep tendon reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, ultrasound of the abdomen, and ophthalmological evaluation were normal. Brain evoked response auditory revealed bilateral moderate hearing loss. He fulfilled the Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 criteria for autism. In the Vineland Social Maturity Scale, his score indicated a severe delay in social functioning. His genetic evaluation included karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). The karyotype report from high-resolution lymphocyte cultures was mos 46, XY, der(3)t(3; 5)(p26; p15.3)[50]/46, XY,der(5) t(3;5) (p26;p15.3)[50].ish. His karyotype report showed a very rare and abnormal mosaic pattern with two cell lines (50% each). Cell-line#1: 3pter deletion with 5pter duplication (3pter-/5pter+) and cell-line#2: 3pter duplication with 5pter deletion (3pter+/5pter-) derived from a de novo reciprocal translocation t(3; 5)(p26; p15.3) which was confirmed by FISH. The chromosomal microarray analysis report was normal. The two cell lines (50% each) seem to have balanced out at the whole genome level. Occupational, sensory integration, and behavior modification therapy were initiated for his autistic features, and anticholinergic trihexiphenidyl was prescribed for hyperkinetic movements.
Conclusion: This case highlights a rare genetic finding and the need for timely genetic testing in a child with dysmorphism and autism with movement disorder to enable appropriate management and genetic counselling.
The LRP2 gene encodes megalin (LRP-2/GP330), a large single-spanning transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a multiligand endocytotic receptor and mediates the reabsorption of albumin in the proximal renal tubule. LRP2 is implicated in an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by dimorphisms, ocular anomalies, sensorineural deafness, proteinuria, epilepsy, and intellectual disability: a clinical condition called Donnai-Barrow syndrome (DBS) or facio-oculo-acoustico-renal (FOAR) syndrome. Pathogenic variants in LRP2 have been reported in fewer than 60 patients, but a detailed description of seizures, electroencephalographic patterns, imaging findings, behavioral phenotype, and long-term follow-up is still needed. We provide a clinical report of two mono-chorionic twins with LRP2-related disease manifesting developmental delay, autistic features, seizures, proteinuria, and sleep disorders. By sequencing clinical exome, LRP2 candidate rare variants, c.6815G > A, p. (Arg2272His), inherited from the mother and c.12725A > G, p. (Asp4242Gly), inherited from the father, were identified. During follow-up, at the age of 7, the main clinical features of the patients included insomnia, autistic features, severe psychomotor delay, and absent speech. The patients were under treatment with risperidone, antiseizure medications (ASMs), and supplementation of alpha-lactalbumin for self-injury and sleep disturbance. Our study confirmed the wide spectrum of behavioral and neurological and psychiatric features of this rare condition, suggesting new treatment options.

