Cornelia de Lange syndrome: parental preferences regarding the provision of medical information.

We surveyed 57 caregivers of children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) using a self-report questionnaire designed to elicit their experiences with receiving information regarding health complications associated with this multisystem disorder. Their most frequent sources of information at the time of diagnosis were a health care provider (86%) and the CdLS Foundation (72%). Although most caregivers (82%) indicated a desire to receive information about all possible CdLS related health complications, on average they recalled receiving information on only 64% of their child's current or future health complications.

Cost comparison of genetic and clinical screening in families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Endoglin (ENG) and ALK-1 mutations cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiecstasia (HHT), an autosomal dominant disorder leading to vascular dysplasia in the form of mucocutaneous telangiectasia and visceral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). We proposed to compare two alternative strategies for management of HHT: screening HHT families with molecular diagnostic tests followed by targeted clinical screening versus conventional clinical screening. A decision analytic model was constructed to compare screening strategies for a hypothetical HHT family.

Newly recognized autosomal recessive acrofacial dysostosis syndrome resembling Nager syndrome.

We report on two patients with a unique constellation of anomalies resembling the Nager acrofacial dysostosis syndrome. Clinical manifestations which differentiate their condition from Nager syndrome include: microcephaly, cleft lip and palate, a peculiar beaked nose, blepharophimosis, microtia, symmetrical involvement of the thumbs, and great toes and developmental delay. We postulate that the inheritance is autosomal recessive on the basis of similarly affected male and female sibs.

Clinical and genetic aspects of trigonocephaly: a study of 25 cases.

We reviewed 25 patients ascertained through the finding of trigonocephaly/metopic synostosis as a prominent manifestation. In 16 patients, trigonocephaly/metopic synostosis was the only significant finding (64%); 2 patients had metopic/sagittal synostosis (8%) and in 7 patients the trigonocephaly was part of a syndrome (28%). Among the nonsyndromic cases, 12 were males and 6 were females and the sex ratio was 2 M:1 F.