Combined microdeletions and CHD7 mutation causing severe CHARGE/DiGeorge syndrome: clinical presentation and molecular investigation by array-CGH.

Citation:

Kaliakatsos M, Giannakopoulos A, Fryssira H, Kanariou M, Skiathitou A-V, Siahanidou T, Giannikou K, Makrythanasis P, Kanavakis E, Tzetis M. Combined microdeletions and CHD7 mutation causing severe CHARGE/DiGeorge syndrome: clinical presentation and molecular investigation by array-CGH. J Hum Genet. 2010;55:761-3.

Abstract:

Phenotypic variation in CHARGE syndrome remains unexplained. A subcategory of CHARGE patients show overlapping phenotypic characteristics with DiGeorge syndrome (thymic hypo/aplasia, hypocalcemia, T-cell immunodeficiency). Very few have been tested or reported to carry a mutation of the CHD7 (chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain) gene detected in two-thirds of CHARGE patients. In an attempt to explore the genetic background of a severe CHARGE/DiGeorge phenotype, we performed comparative genomic array hybridization in an infant carrier of a CHD7 mutation. The high-resolution comparative genomic array hybridization revealed interesting findings, including a deletion distal to the DiGeorge region and disruptions in other chromosomal regions of genes implicated in immunological and other functions possibly contributing to the patient’s severe phenotype and early death.