Pathologic, radiographic and molecular findings in three fetuses diagnosed with HEM/Greenberg skeletal dysplasia.

Background: Greenberg skeletal dysplasia is a very rare, autosomal recessive, in utero, lethal chondrodystrophy for which only eight index cases of diverse ethnic origin have been reported so far. The defect is associated with a defect in cholesterol biosynthesis and due to mutations in the gene encoding the lamin B receptor (LBR).

Methods: A familial case of three fetuses of a consanguineous Greek couple is presented including prenatal, physical, radiographic, histopathologic, and molecular genetic findings.

Results: The tentative diagnosis of Greenberg skeletal dysplasia based on pathological findings was confirmed by the identification of a homozygous, N547D amino acid substitution in the LBR gene in the third affected fetus.

Conclusion: The present case represents the ninth described case of Greenberg dysplasia and the second case of Greek origin. The characteristic 'moth-eaten' radiographic appearance is already seen at 13 weeks' gestational age.