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Acrocallosal syndrome
Polydactyly and hallux duplication in a 1-day-old infant due to acrocallosal syndrome.
Specialty	Medical genetics
Symptoms	Agenesis of the corpus callosum, craniofacial anomalies, psychomotor retardation with hypotonia, polydactyly
Duration	Lifelong
Causes	Mutations in KIF7 or GLI3
Frequency	Fewer than 50 cases

Acrocallosal syndrome (also known as ACLS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by corpus callosum agenesis, polydactyly, multiple dysmorphic features, motor and intellectual disabilities, and other symptoms. The syndrome was first described by Albert Schinzel in 1979. Mutations in KIF7 are causative for ACLS, and mutations in GLI3 are associated with a similar syndrome.

Signs and symptoms

Acrocallosal syndrome (ACLS, ACS, Schinzel-type, Hallux-duplication) is a rare, heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder first discovered by Albert Schinzel (1979) in a 3-year-old boy. Characteristics of this syndrome include agenesis of the corpus callosum, macrocephaly, hypertelorism, poor motor skills, intellectual disability, extra fingers and toes (particularly hallux duplication), and cleft palate. Seizures may also occur.

Mechanism

Mutations in the KIF7 gene are causative for ACLS. KIF7 is a 1343 amino acid protein with a kinesin motor, coiled coil, and Gli-binding domains. It is associated with ciliary motor function and is a key factor in the ciliary Hedgehog signaling pathway that is crucial during embryogenesis. Mutations in Hedgehog signaling components such as KIF7 and GLI3 may lead to ciliopathies and defects in the brain and other areas associated with ACLS and related disorders.

Mutations in the GLI3 gene may cause ACLS or similar syndromes such as Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome, Pallister–Hall syndrome, or certain types of polydactyly. KIF7 interacts with Gli transcription factors, so mutations in the KIF7 gene may be upstream effectors of GLI3, resulting in similar symptoms.

Diagnosis

ACLS is typically diagnosed on the basis of physical examination. At least three of four core criteria published by Courtens et al. (1997) must be present:

1. Total or partial agenesis of the corpus callosum
2. Minor craniofacial anomalies such as macrocephaly or hypertelorism
3. Moderate to severe psychomotor retardation with hypotonia
4. Polydactyly

The differential diagnosis includes Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome, orofaciodigital syndrome types I and II, Meckel–Gruber syndrome, Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome, Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, Aicardi syndrome, Neu–Laxova syndrome, Young–Madders syndrome, oto-palato-digital syndrome type 2, Toriello–Carey syndrome, and Da Silva syndromes. ACLS may be differentiated from Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome by the presence of intracranial cysts.

ACLS may be suspected antenatally if a previous child is affected, as any subsequent child has a 25% chance of having ACLS. Obstetric ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging can reveal polydactyly and/or cerebral malformations from the 20th week of gestation. Chorionic villus sampling and molecular genetic testing can be performed to confirm whether mutations in disease-associated genes are present.

ACLS is an extremely rare disorder, with 34 cases described in the literature as of 2005.

Management

Management of ACLS consists mainly of monitoring by a pediatric neuropsychiatrist and supportive therapies or accommodations such as occupational therapy and special education plans. Surgery may be considered in early childhood to remove extra digits in case of polydactyly or resolve orofacial defects such as cleft palate. If present, seizures and renal parenchymal hypertension may be treated with anticonvulsants and antihypertensive drugs, respectively. Patients may be offered genetic and vocational counselling when appropriate.

Prognosis

Lifespan may range from stillbirth to normal expectancy depending on severity of hypotonia and onset of epilepsy. Severe hypotonia can lead to fatal infant respiratory distress syndrome or apnea within the first days or weeks of life. Conversely, in mild cases, subjects live relatively normal lives with some developmental delays and mild to moderate intellectual disability.

References

1. ^ "European Conference on Rare Diseases" (PDF). European organisation for Rare Diseases. June 21–22, 2005. p. 35. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
2. ^ "Acrocallosal syndrome, Schinzel type". Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
3. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): Acrocallosal syndrome; ACLS - 200990
4. ^ Schinzel, Albert (May 1979). "Postaxial polydactyly, hallux duplication, absence of the corpus callosum, macroencephaly and severe mental retardation: a new syndrome?". Helvetica Paediatrica Acta. 34 (2): 141–6. PMID 457430.
5. ^ Elson E, Perveen R, Donnai D, Wall S, Black GC (November 2002). "De novo GLI3 mutation in acrocallosal syndrome: broadening the phenotypic spectrum of GLI3 defects and overlap with murine models". J. Med. Genet. 39 (11): 804–6. doi:10.1136/jmg.39.11.804. PMC 1735022. PMID 12414818.
6. Walsh D.; Shalev S.; Simpson M.; Morgan N.; Gelman-Kohan Z.; Chemke J.; Trembath R.; Maher E. (2013). "Acrocallosal syndrome: Identification of a novel KIF7 mutation and evidence for oligogenic inheritance". European Journal of Medical Genetics. 56 (1): 39–42. doi:10.1016/j.ejmg.2012.10.004. PMID 23142271.
7. Putoux, Audrey; Thomas, Sophie; Coene, Karlien L M; Davis, Erica E; Alanay, Yasemin; Ogur, Gönül; Uz, Elif; Buzas, Daniela; Gomes, Céline (2013-06-06). "KIF7 mutations cause fetal hydrolethalus and acrocallosal syndromes". Nature Genetics. 43 (6): 601–606. doi:10.1038/ng.826. ISSN 1061-4036. PMC 3674836. PMID 21552264.
8. Courtens W, Vamos E, Christophe C, Schinzel A (1997). "Acrocallosal syndrome in an Algerian boy born to consanguineous parents: review of the literature and further delineation of the syndrome". Am J Med Genet. 69 (1): 17–22. doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19970303)69:1<17::aid-ajmg4>3.0.co;2-q. PMID 9066878.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
9. ^ Koenig R.; Bach A.; Ulrike W.; Grzeschik K-H; Fuchs S. (2002). "Spectrum of the acrocallosal syndrome". American Journal of Medical Genetics. 108 (1): 7–11. doi:10.1002/ajmg.10236. PMID 11857542.
10. ^ Ramteke VV, Darole PA, Shaikh ZF, Padwal NJ, Agrawal B, Shrivastava MS; et al. (2011). "Acrocallosal syndrome in a young hypertensive male". BMJ Case Rep. 2011: bcr1220103648. doi:10.1136/bcr.12.2010.3648. PMC 3089937. PMID 22696705.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• Acrocallosal syndrome, Schinzel type at NIH's Office of Rare Diseases

• Autosomal recessive disorders
• Rare genetic syndromes
• Ciliopathy
• Syndromes with dysmelia
• Syndromes with intellectual disability
• Corpus callosum
• Syndromes with cleft lip and/or palate
• Syndromes with craniofacial abnormalities