Clinical Description
Classic and nonclassic genotype Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) are characterized by clinical features that develop in childhood and resemble some features of accelerated aging. Children with progeria usually appear normal at birth and in early infancy.
Growth deficiency. Most infants display normal weight at birth. Profound failure to thrive usually occurs during the first year. Poor weight gain and loss of subcutaneous fat results in weight less than the third percentile for age, and weight that is distinctly low for height. Stature also decreases to below the third percentile for age.
Characteristic facial features (see ) include a head that appears disproportionately large for face, narrow nasal ridge with a narrow nasal tip, thin vermilion of the upper and lower lips, small mouth, retrognathia, and micrognathia. Ogival (steeple-shaped) palatal vault occurs in 60%-70% of affected individuals. A short, thick lingual frenulum that limits tongue mobility is seen in about 50% of affected individuals. Narrow airway and rigid laryngeal structures cause a high-pitched voice.
Dental. Delayed eruption and delayed loss of primary teeth are common. Dental crowding occurs as a result of a small mouth, lack of primary tooth loss, and secondary tooth eruption behind the primary teeth. Secondary tooth eruption is often partial.
Skin. Skin findings may be evident at birth and are present in all individuals by age two years. "Sclerodermatous" skin changes variably include areas that are described as taut, thickened, fibrotic, indurated, or rippled. In addition, dimpling or irregular small outpouchings can occur over the lower abdomen and proximal thighs. Skin also displays abnormal pigmentation consisting of light or dark macules and patches along with some papules and skin mottling.
Hair. Partial alopecia progresses to total alopecia. Sparse downy hairs may be present on the occiput. Loss of eyebrows is common, and loss of eyelashes occurs in some individuals.
Nails. Fingernails and toenails become dystrophic.
Musculoskeletal. Individuals with HGPS are particularly susceptible to hip dislocation because of the progressive coxa valga malformation, which can be accompanied by avascular necrosis of the hip (osteonecrosis). Avascular necrosis can cause hip pain and is evident on x-ray. The coxa valga causes a wide-based shuffling gait. Additional bone changes include osteolysis of the distal phalanges, short clavicles with distal resorption, a pear-shaped thorax, and mildly low bone density for age. Fractures are not more commonly reported in individuals with HGPS. Extraskeletal calcifications are present in 40% of cases, with unknown clinical significance. Progressive stiffness of the joints due to tightened joint ligaments and osteoarthritis occurs with variable severity.
Endocrine. Affected individuals do not become sexually mature. Females reach Tanner Stage 1 (78%) or 2 (22%) during pubertal years, and approximately 60% of females experience menarche [Greer et al 2018]. No cases of fertility have been described. Serum leptin concentrations are below the limit of detection. Insulin resistance occurs in about 50% of individuals, without the overt development of diabetes mellitus.
Cardiovascular/cerebrovascular. Individuals with HGPS develop severe atherosclerosis, usually without obvious abnormalities in lipid profiles [Gordon et al 2005]. In general, serum cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride concentrations are not elevated and HDL concentrations may decrease with age. Diastolic dysfunction and cardiac strain are early cardiac abnormalities, usually detected beyond age five years by tissue Doppler echocardiography [Prakash et al 2018, Olsen et al 2023]. Sequential manifestations of cardiovascular decline include impaired relaxation of the heart muscle, followed by ventricular hypertrophy. This may occur in the setting of heart valve thickening or stenosis, or with hypertension that is often labile. Mitral and aortic valve abnormalities, including calcification, stenosis, and regurgitation, usually develop in the second decade of life. Aortic gradient increases exponentially with time at later stages of disease, portending critical aortic stenosis [Gordon et al, unpublished data].
Systolic dysfunction is usually present in the setting of advanced disease, with or without identified coronary vascular insufficiency. Clinical symptoms of angina, dyspnea on exertion, or overt heart failure appear as late findings in the course of disease.
Transient ischemic attacks, silent strokes, or symptomatic strokes have occurred as early as age four years [Silvera et al 2013]. Strokes can occur at any brain site and, therefore can lead to a variety of physical limitations and/or cognitive decline. Partial and complete carotid artery blockages can occur from plaque formation. Despite underlying vascular disease, most children do not have clinically identified strokes.
Raynaud phenomenon in fingers occurs in a minority of affected individuals.
Without lonafarnib treatment, death typically occurs as a result of complications of cardiac or cerebrovascular disease. More than 80% of deaths are due to heart failure and/or myocardial infarction, most often between ages six and 20 years, with an average life span of approximately 14.5 years [Gordon et al 2014, Gordon et al 2018a]. Average life span is extended to approximately 17-19.5 years with lonafarnib therapy, with similar cause of death.
Ophthalmologic. Nocturnal lagophthalmos (the inability to fully close the eyes during sleep) is common. As a result, corneal dryness and clouding can occur. In a minority of individuals, corneal ulceration occurs due to exposure keratitis [Mantagos et al 2017].
Hearing. Conductive hearing loss is highly prevalent at all ages, with low-frequency hearing loss more prevalent than high-frequency [Guardiani et al 2011, Gordon et al 2012].
Other
Motor and mental development are normal.
Tumor rate is not increased over that of the general population. One individual died of a chondrosarcoma of the chest wall at age 13 years [
King et al 1978].
Other changes associated with normal aging such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, arcus senilis, senile personality changes, or Alzheimer disease have not been documented.
Children with HGPS appear to have a normal immune system; they respond as well as the general population when subjected to various infections. Wound healing is normal.
Liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cognitive functions are normal.