Baller Gerold Syndrome

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Baller Gerold Syndrome

Baller-Gerold syndrome is a rare condition characterized by the premature fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis) and abnormalities of bones in the arms and hands, sometimes referred to as radial ray anomalies. Many cases of Baller-Gerold syndrome are caused by mutations in the RECQL4 gene. These cases are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. In a few reported cases, the characteristic features of Baller-Gerold syndrome have been associated with prenatal exposure to a drug called sodium valproate which is used to treat epilepsy and certain psychiatric disorders. Treatment may include surgery for treatment of craniosynostosis or reconstruction of the index finger to functional thumb. The symptoms of Baller-Gerold syndrome overlap with features of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and RAPADILINO syndrome which are also caused by the RECQL4 gene. Researchers are trying to determine if these conditions are separate disorders or part of a single syndrome with overlapping signs and symptoms.

Baller-Gerold syndrome is a rare condition characterized by the premature fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis) and abnormalities of bones in the arms and hands.

People with Baller-Gerold syndrome have prematurely fused skull bones, most often along the coronal suture, the growth line that goes over the head from ear to ear. Other sutures of the skull may be fused as well. These changes result in an abnormally shaped head, a prominent forehead, and bulging eyes with shallow eye sockets (ocular proptosis). Other distinctive facial features can include widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), a small mouth, and a saddle-shaped or underdeveloped nose.

Bone abnormalities in the hands include missing fingers (oligodactyly) and malformed or absent thumbs. Partial or complete absence of bones in the forearm is also common. Together, these hand and arm abnormalities are called radial ray malformations.

People with Baller-Gerold syndrome may have a variety of additional signs and symptoms including slow growth beginning in infancy, small stature, and malformed or missing kneecaps (patellae). A skin rash often appears on the arms and legs a few months after birth. This rash spreads over time, causing patchy changes in skin coloring, areas of thinning skin (atrophy), and small clusters of blood vessels just under the skin (telangiectases). These chronic skin problems are collectively known as poikiloderma.

The varied signs and symptoms of Baller-Gerold syndrome overlap with features of other disorders, namely Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and RAPADILINO syndrome. These syndromes are also characterized by radial ray defects, skeletal abnormalities, and slow growth. All of these conditions can be caused by mutations in the same gene. Based on these similarities, researchers are investigating whether Baller-Gerold syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, and RAPADILINO syndrome are separate disorders or part of a single syndrome with overlapping signs and symptoms.

Baller-Gerold Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is apparent at birth (congenital). The disorder is characterized by distinctive malformations of the skull and facial (craniofacial) area and bones of the forearms and hands.

In infants with Baller-Gerold Syndrome, there is premature fusion of the fibrous joints (cranial sutures) between certain bones in the skull (craniosynostosis). As a result, the head may appear unusually short and wide and/or pointed at the top (turribrachycephaly) or relatively triangular in shape (trigonocephaly). Affected infants may also have a prominent forehead; downslanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), small, malformed (dysplastic), low-set ears, and/or other craniofacial abnormalities. Baller-Gerold Syndrome is also characterized by underdevelopment (hypoplasia) or absence (aplasia) of the bone on the thumb side of the forearms (radii). In addition, the bone on the “pinky” side of the forearms (ulnae) is unusually short and curved and the thumbs may be underdeveloped or absent. In some cases, additional physical abnormalities and/or mental retardation may also be present. Baller-Gerold Syndrome is thought to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

Baller–Gerold syndrome Synonyms Craniosynostosis-radial aplasia syndrome, Craniosynostosis with radial defects Autosomal recessive – en.svg The inheritance pattern of Baller-Gerold Syndrome Baller–Gerold syndrome (BGS) is a rare genetic syndrome that involves premature fusion of the skull bones and malformations of facial, forearm and hand bones. The symptoms of Baller–Gerold syndrome overlap with features of a few other genetics disorders: Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and RAPADILINO syndrome.[1] The prevalence of BGS is unknown, as there have only been a few reported cases, but it is estimated to be less than 1 in a million. The name Baller-Gerold comes from the researchers Baller and Gerold who discovered the first three cases.

Symptoms

Many people with Baller-Gerold syndrome have prematurely fused skull bones along the coronal suture, the growth line that goes over the head from ear to ear. Other parts of the skull may be malformed as well. These changes result in an abnormally shaped head, a prominent forehead, and bulging eyes with shallow eye sockets (ocular proptosis). Other distinctive facial features can include widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), a small mouth, and a saddle-shaped or underdeveloped nose.

Bone abnormalities in the hands include missing fingers (oligodactyly) and malformed or absent thumbs. Partial or complete absence of bones in the forearm is also common. Together, these hand and arm abnormalities are called radial ray malformations.

People with Baller-Gerold syndrome may have a variety of additional signs and symptoms including slow growth beginning in infancy, small stature, and malformed or missing kneecaps (patellae). A skin rash often appears on the arms and legs a few months after birth. This rash spreads over time, causing patchy changes in skin coloring, areas of skin tissue degeneration, and small clusters of enlarged blood vessels just under the skin. These chronic skin problems are collectively known as poikiloderma.

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Patients with Baller-Gerold syndrome are born with premature closure of the joints or seams (sutures) of the skull causing an upward growth of the head giving it a pointed or cone-shaped appearance. The large bone of the forearm on the opposite side of the thumb (ulnar) is short and curved and the short bone of the forearm on the thumb side (radius) is underdeveloped or missing.

Most patients with Baller-Gerold syndrome are very short and have a nasal bridge that is high. They also have a prominent lower jaw.

Hearing loss, absent or underdeveloped thumbs and bones of the hand, abnormalities of the pelvis and spine, a vertical fold of skin over the inner corner of the eye (epicanthal folds), eyes that are set close together, small abnormally developed ears, skin that sheds and/or mental or motor delay may also be present.

Problems with fine motor skills may be present due to the deformities of the hands and arms.

Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Causes

Baller-Gerold syndrome is caused, in most cases, by a malfunctioning (mutated) gene that has been tracked to a particular site on chromosome 8 known as 8q24.3. Some cases of BGS are the result of an unexpected, spontaneous mutation the cause of which cannot be attributed to the parental transmission (sporadic). In all cases the trait is transmitted by an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. The responsible gene on chromosome 8 is known as the RECQL4 gene.

Chromosomes, which are present in the nucleus of human cells, carry the genetic information for each individual. Human body cells normally have 46 chromosomes. Pairs of human chromosomes are numbered from 1 through 22 and the sex chromosomes are designated X and Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes. Each chromosome has a short arm designated “p” and a long arm designated “q”. Chromosomes are further sub-divided into many bands that are numbered. For example, ‘chromosome 8q24.3″ refers to band 24.3 on the long arm of chromosome 8. The numbered bands specify the location of the thousands of genes that are present on each chromosome.

Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same abnormal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25 percent with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50 percent with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25 percent. The risk is the same for males and females.

All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.

Parents of some individuals with Baller-Gerold Syndrome have been closely related by blood (consanguineous). There is at least one report of a child with many of the features of BGS due to the inhalation of sodium valproate, an anti-convulsive medication sometimes used to control epileptic seizures.

Treatments

Treatment of Baller-Gerold syndrome involves surgery to relieve pressure inside the skull due to the craniosynostosis. This can be done by separating the bony sections and lining the seams between them with materials to prevent fusion. The younger the patient is at the time of the surgery the better the results.

Surgery to correct other skeletal deformities may be required and physical as well as occupational therapy may also help in the development of fine motor skills.

Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

While there is no cure for BGS, symptoms can be treated as they arise. Surgery shortly after birth can repair craniosynostosis, as well as defects in the hand to create a functional grasp.[1] There are risks associated with untreated craniosynostosis, therefore surgery is often needed to separate and reshape the bones. Since patients with a RECQL4 mutation may be at an increased risk of developing cancer, surveillance is recommended.

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