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Handbook of Genetic Counseling/Noonan Syndrome
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Noonan Syndrome
Introduction and contracting
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Dr. ___ will come in to perform a physical examination
We will be discussing if we think there is a diagnosis that can be made at this time
If a diagnosis is made we will explain the inheritance and information we know about the cause
Medical history
(follow form)
Overview of Noonan Syndrome
Common autosomal dominant, single gene
Mistakenly called male Turner syndrome due to similar characteristics
Occurs in both males and females equally
Characteristics of Noonan Syndrome
Short stature
Congenital heart defects
Broad or webbed neck
Unusual chest shape (low set nipples, superior pectus carinatum, inferior pectus excavatum)
Developmental delay
Cryptorchidism
Characteristic physical appearance changes over time
Features irrespective of age
Low set posteriorly rotated ears with thick helix (90%)
Vivid blue or blue-green eyes (lighter than expected for background)
thickened or ptotic eyelids
hypertelorism
Neonate and Infancy
(age features are most striking)
tall forehead
hypertelorism with downslant palpebral fissures (95%)
prominent eyes
Nose has depressed root, wide base, bulbous tip
Deeply grooved philtrum
High wide peaks to vermillion border of upper lip
Excess nuchal skin and low posterior hairline
Children
Facial appearance lacks expression (resembles individual with myopathy)
Adolescence
Facial shape inverted triangle, wide forehead tapered chin
Pinched nasal root and thin bridge
Neck lengthens accentuates skin webbing or trapezius muscle
Eyes less prominent
Curly or wooly hair in older child
Adult
Nasolabial folds prominent
Skin appears transparent and wrinkled
Genetics of Noonan syndrome
missense mutations in gene PTPN11 at 12q24.1 identified in 50% of patients
gene identified in 2001 (normal gene encodes protein-tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11 seems to be essential in several intracellular signal transduction pathways controlling diverse developmental processes
absence of this mutation in some families suggests heterogeneity
AD single gene
50% chance to pass on if affected
if parents not affected chance is low <1% (gene clinics)
direct transmission reported 30-75% of time rest are de novo
predominantly mothers not fathers transmit gene (3:1 ratio) (likely due to cryptorchidism and reduced fertility in males)
Prevalence
1/1000-1/2,500
Diagnostic testing
Testing for PTPN11 mutations available on research basis
Diagnosis based on clinical findings though
High-resolution ultrasound only prenatal test available
Differential Diagnosis
Turner syndrome in females should be ruled out through karyotype
Trisomy 8p, trisomy 22 mosaicism, sex chromosome rearrangement, in utero exposure to alcohol or primidone
Williams, Aarskog, Baraitser-Winter, Costello syndromes share some features
Multiple lentigines/LEOPARD syndrome can also have pulmonary valve dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, short stature, hypertelorism, pectus deformity, hearing loss, developmental delay
Watson syndrome shares pulmonary valve stenosis, short stature, mild intellectual handicap, café-au-lait patches
Cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome lot of overlap and debate about whether same condition, but MR more severe, skin findings hyperkeratosis, ichthyosis, absent eyebrows, sparse hair, gastrointestinal problems more severe, eyes rarely characteristically light blue/ blue-green
Cause of characteristics
Hypothesized to be consequences of lymphatic obstruction
Growth and feeding
B.W. usually normal
15% have poor suck, 38% poor suck and vomiting, 24% require tube feeding 2 weeks or more
length at birth normal usually then follows 3% ile
final height lower end of normal in adults
some endocrinologists choose to treat with growth hormone even if deficiency not seen
Development and behavior
Delayed milestones
Mean age sitting 10 mth, walking 21 mth, two-word sentence 31 mth
10-15 % require special ed
IQ usually within normal range, but mild MR seen in 1/3
Verbal lower than nonverbal performance
Usually good peer, social interactions and self-esteem, but one study suggests that less socially competent and more behavior problems than sibs (not clinically significant)
Ears and hearing
May cause delayed speech
Reported in >1/3 usually secondary to ottitis media
Sensorineural loss in 3%
Cardiovascular
Potential bias in frequency due to requirement for diagnosis by many (50-80%)
Stenotic or dysplastic pulmonary valve most common (20-50%)
7% of all children with pulmonary stenosis have Noonan
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (20-30%) found at birth, infancy or childhood
ASD (10-20%)
VSD (5-15%)
Coarctation of aorta (9%)
Others
ECG abnormality found in 87-90%
Eye Problems (occur in up to 95%)
Strabismus (48-63%)
Refractive errors (60-70%)
Amblyopia (33%)
Nystagmus (9%)
Other problems common
Blood/ liver spleen
1/3 have coagulation problems
2/3 give history of abnormal bleeding or mild-severe bruising
hepatosplenomegaly occurs reason unknown(clinically evident 25% ultrasound 51%)
should avoid aspirin
various lymphatic abnormalities described
Genitourinary
Renal abnormalities (generally mild 11%)
Cryptorchidism in 60-80% of males may cause deficient spermatogenesis
Fertility is rule in females
Skin
Follicular keratosis
Scalp hair curly, thick and wooly, or sparse with easy breakage
Café-au-lait spots and lentigines more frequent than general population
Management if suspected
Physical and neuro exam
Plot growth on NS charts
Cardiology eval
Ophthalmology
Hearing
Coagulation screen
Renal ultrasound
Clinical and x-ray of spine and rib cage
Develop eval
Genetics consult
Psychosocial considerations
Diagnosis may not be certain
Difficulty and stress of having child with health concerns or learning issues
Guilt if passed on the gene
Support resources
The Noonan Syndrome Support Group
PO box 145
Upperco, MD 21155
Phone: 410-374-5345
Email: info@noonansyndrome.org
Website:www.noonansyndrome.org
MAGIC Foundation for Children's Growth
1327 North Harlem Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
Phone: 708-383-0899
Email: mary@magicfoundation.org
www.magicfoundation.org
References
Management of Genetic Syndromes, Edited by Suzanne b. Cassidy and Judith e. Allanson. 2001. Wiley-Liss Inc. Chapter 15 written by Judith E. Allanson.
Gene Clinics: Noonan Syndrome
Notes
The information in this outline was last updated in 2002.