Fetal arthrogryposis is a well-recognised ultrasonographic phenotype, caused by both genetic, maternal and extrinsic factors. When present with fetal growth restriction, pulmonary hypoplasia and multiple joint contractures, it is often referred to as fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS). Historically, elucidating genetic causes of arthryogryposis/FADS has been challenging; there are now more than 150 genes known to cause arthrogryposis through myopathic, neuromuscular and metabolic pathways affecting fetal movement. FADS is associated with over 400 medical conditions making prenatal diagnosis challenging. Here we present a case of FADS diagnosed at 19 weeks gestation with progression to severe fetal hydrops and stillbirth at 26-weeks gestation. Initial investigations including combined first trimester screening, TORCH (infection) screen and chromosomal microarray were normal. Trio whole exome sequencing (WES) detected compound heterozygous likely pathogenic CACNA1S gene variants associated with autosomal dominant (AD) and autosomal recessive (AR) congenital myopathy and FADS. To our knowledge, this is the first prenatal diagnosis of this condition.
Biallelic variants in GLDN have recently been associated with lethal congenital contracture syndrome 11 (LCCS11), a form of fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS) with high neonatal mortality. In this report, we describe five individuals from two Canadian Inuit families originating from different communities in Nunavik all affected with FADS and harboring a rare homozygous missense variant, [NM_181789.4:c.
Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Research, Aichi Developmental Disability Center, 713-8 Kamiya, Kasugai 480-0392, Japan.
encodes a small GTPase of the Rho family that plays a critical role in actin cytoskeleton remodeling and intracellular signaling regulation. Pathogenic variants in , all of which reported thus far affect conserved residues within its functional domains, have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by diverse phenotypic features, including structural brain anomalies and facial dysmorphism (NEDBAF). Recently, a novel de novo variant (NM_005052.
Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita involves joint contractures across various body parts. Distal arthrogryposis type 5D (DA5D) is a rare, autosomal recessive subtype affecting distal extremities, with symptoms like knee extension contractures, camptodactyly, overriding fingers, ulnar wrist deviation, and scoliosis.
Case: A 24-year-old pregnant woman with a second-degree relative partner had a fetus showing increased nuchal translucency (3.
The neuromuscular junction is a prototypic synapse that has been extensively studied and provides a model for smaller and less accessible central synapses. Central to transmission at the neuromuscular synapse is the muscle acetylcholine receptor cation channel. Studies of the genetic disorders affecting the neuromuscular junction, termed congenital myasthenic syndromes, have illustrated how impaired signal transmission may be caused by a variety of mutations both within the ion channel itself and by the context of the ion channel within the synapse.
Pediatric skeletal muscle channelopathies include a spectrum of conditions including nondystrophic myotonias and periodic paralyses. They are rare inherited conditions that can cause significant morbidity. They are characterized by episodic stiffness and weakness.
