TY - JOUR
T1 - The clinical picture of the Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome in males and heterozygous females with PHF6 mutations
AU - Turner, G.
AU - Lower, K. M.
AU - White, S. M.
AU - Delatycki, M.
AU - Lampe, A. K.
AU - Wright, M.
AU - Clayton-Smith, J.
AU - Kerr, B.
AU - Schelley, S.
AU - Hoyme, H. E.
AU - De Vries, B. B.A.
AU - Kleefstra, T.
AU - Grompe, M.
AU - Cox, B.
AU - Gecz, J.
AU - Partington, Michael
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - The usual description of the Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS) is that of a rare, X-linked, partially dominant condition with severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, microcephaly, coarse facial features, long ears, short stature, obesity, gynecomastia, tapering fingers, and shortened toes. Recently, mutations have been identified in the PHF6 gene in nine families with this syndrome. The clinical history and physical findings in the affected males reveal that the phenotype is milder and more variable than previously described and evolves with age. Generally, in the first year, the babies are floppy, with failure to thrive, big ears, and small external genitalia. As schoolboys, the picture is one of learning problems, moderate short stature, with emerging truncal obesity and gynecomastia. Head circumferences are usually normal, and macrocephaly may be seen. Big ears and small genitalia remain. The toes are short and fingers tapered and malleable. In late adolescence and adult life, the classically described heavy facial appearance emerges. Some heterozygous females show milder clinical features such as tapering fingers and shortened toes. Twenty percent have significant learning problems, and 95% have skewed X inactivation. We conclude that this syndrome may be underdiagnosed in males in their early years and missed altogether in isolated heterozygous females.
AB - The usual description of the Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome (BFLS) is that of a rare, X-linked, partially dominant condition with severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, microcephaly, coarse facial features, long ears, short stature, obesity, gynecomastia, tapering fingers, and shortened toes. Recently, mutations have been identified in the PHF6 gene in nine families with this syndrome. The clinical history and physical findings in the affected males reveal that the phenotype is milder and more variable than previously described and evolves with age. Generally, in the first year, the babies are floppy, with failure to thrive, big ears, and small external genitalia. As schoolboys, the picture is one of learning problems, moderate short stature, with emerging truncal obesity and gynecomastia. Head circumferences are usually normal, and macrocephaly may be seen. Big ears and small genitalia remain. The toes are short and fingers tapered and malleable. In late adolescence and adult life, the classically described heavy facial appearance emerges. Some heterozygous females show milder clinical features such as tapering fingers and shortened toes. Twenty percent have significant learning problems, and 95% have skewed X inactivation. We conclude that this syndrome may be underdiagnosed in males in their early years and missed altogether in isolated heterozygous females.
KW - Big ears
KW - Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann syndrome
KW - Gynecomastia
KW - Hypotonia
KW - PHF6 mutations
KW - Skewed X inactivation
KW - Syndromic X-linked mental retardation
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U2 - 10.1111/j.0009-9163.2004.00215.x
DO - 10.1111/j.0009-9163.2004.00215.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 14756673
AN - SCOPUS:10744219685
SN - 0009-9163
VL - 65
SP - 226
EP - 232
JO - Clinical Genetics
JF - Clinical Genetics
IS - 3
ER -