Clinical Description
More than 600 individuals have been identified with pathogenic genetic alterations involving SHANK3 [Soorya et al 2013, Tabet et al 2017, De Rubeis et al 2018, Samogy-Costa et al 2019, Levy et al 2022, Nevado et al 2022, Schön et al 2023]. Some features of the condition appear to be due to heterozygous loss of SHANK3 alone, while other features may be seen primarily in those who have larger deletions of 22q13.3 that include SHANK3 and adjacent genes (see Genotype-Phenotype Correlations). The following description summarizes the phenotypic features associated with both molecular mechanisms. Clinical features associated with deletions of 22q13.3 that do NOT include SHANK3 are not included here (see Genetically Related Disorders).
Table 2.
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome-SHANK3 Related: Frequency of Select Features 1
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Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
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Developmental delay / intellectual disability | 98% | Typically in the moderate-to-severe range |
Sleep disturbances | Up to 90% | Varying from 53% in toddlers to 90% in adults 2 |
Absent or severely delayed speech | 87% | |
Other behavioral differences (not autism) | 81% 3 | Mouthing/chewing objects, bruxism |
Neonatal hypotonia | 75% | Often leads to feeding difficulties |
Ataxic/abnormal gait | 69% 4 | |
Decreased perception of pain | 67% | |
Epilepsy | >60% 5 | Estimates of seizure prevalence vary by study. |
Autism spectrum disorder / autistic-like features | 60% | |
Abnormal brain imaging | 49% | |
Regression / loss of skills | 47% 6 | |
Malocclusion / widely spaced teeth | 36% | |
Decreased perspiration / tendency to overheat | 31% | |
Gastroesophageal reflux disease | 24% | |
Strabismus | 23% | |
Vision problems | 23% | Including hyperopia & myopia |
Cardiac abnormalities | 13% | |
Renal issues | 13% | |
Lymphedema | 10% | |
Developmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID). Most individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related experience delays in all developmental areas. Although the severity of the delay tends to vary with deletion size [Sarasua et al 2011, Zwanenburg et al 2016], individuals with the same size deletion may be vastly different in their degree of disability [Dhar et al 2010].
For motor skills, the average age of achievement is as follows:
Rolling over: eight months
Crawling: approximately 16 months
Walking: approximately three years
Poor muscle tone, lack of balance, and decreased upper body strength contribute to the delay in walking.
Gait is typically broad based and unsteady.
Individuals may walk on their toes to achieve balance.
Speech delay. In general, individuals with smaller deletions or with SHANK3 pathogenic variants not involving adjacent genes have better speech and language development and better receptive language skills compared to expressive language skills [Tabet et al 2017, Manning et al 2021]. Infants typically babble at the appropriate age, and children may acquire a limited vocabulary; however, by approximately age four years many children have lost the ability to speak. Although speech remains impaired throughout life, individuals can learn to communicate with the aid of intensive speech therapy and communication training.
In a study of 21 individuals with PMS-
SHANK3 related with deletions varying between 41 kb and 8.3 Mb, 45% were nonverbal [
Brignell et al 2021].
Nevado et al [2022] reported absence of speech for 80%-100% of individuals with terminal 22q13 deletions spanning 5-6 Mb or more.
Receptive communication skills are more advanced than expressive language skills, as evidenced by the ability of affected children to follow simple commands, demonstrate humor, and express emotions.
Overall development
Regression / loss of skills. The regression in PMS-SHANK3 related is distinct from the regression seen in autism spectrum disorder and Rett syndrome in that it occurs later in life and has a stronger impact on motor and self-help skills [Reierson et al 2017]. Loss of speech is most frequently reported, but loss of social interactions, purposeful hand movements, self-help skills, and walking have also been described. In a study of 42 individuals aged four to 48 years using the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R), parents reported regression in 43% of affected individuals with onset around age six years. About 40% of individuals recovered skills; time to recovery ranged from one month to 10 years [Reierson et al 2017]. More specifically, parents reported regression and loss of:
Language in 33% at a mean age of three years;
Motor skills in 50% at a mean age of four years;
Self-help skills in 50% at a mean age of four years;
Social engagement/responsiveness in 33% at a mean age of five years;
Purposeful hand movement in 28% at a mean age of seven years;
Constructive/imaginative play in 22% at a mean age of seven years.
No apparent cause for the regression has been found in a majority of individuals, although infection, changes in hormone status, and stressful life events may be possible triggers [Kohlenberg et al 2020] (see Decreased perception of pain below). Comorbidities or secondary diagnoses may also contribute to regression in affected individuals.
Autoimmune dysfunction has been proposed as a trigger for regression, with
Bey et al [2020] reporting a positive response to immune modulation therapy utilizing intravenous immunoglobulin infusions in four females suspected to have autoimmune encephalitis.
Additionally, an affected female in her mid-twenties presented with regression and dystonic spastic hemiparesis; she was subsequently diagnosed with concomitant multiple sclerosis that responded to steroid treatment [
Jesse et al 2021].
Neurobehavioral/psychiatric manifestations. Individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related are at increased risk of developing severe neuropsychiatric illnesses in adolescence or early adulthood, although many of the reports describing psychiatric manifestations are based on parental observation; therefore, direct in-person assessment to determine a more accurate understanding of behavior in PMS has been recommended [Kohlenberg et al 2020, Landlust et al 2022]. Between one half and three quarters of affected individuals meet clinical diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Others may exhibit one or more autistic features but do not meet the strict diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Specific findings may include poor eye contact, stereotypic movements, persistent deficits in social communication (see Speech delay above), self-stimulation, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities [Soorya et al 2013, Oberman et al 2015]. Other abnormal behaviors may include:
Habitual chewing or mouthing
Tooth grinding
Agitation in unfamiliar, noisy, or crowded surroundings
Aggressive behavior, including biting, hair pulling, or pinching, which is seen in approximately 25% of affected individuals
The behavior is typically displayed when individuals are frustrated and may indicate that they are in pain but cannot express themselves appropriately.
The behavior is not self-injurious but is often directed at the parent or caregiver.
Catatonia, which may present after neurologic regression, psychosis, and loss of skills [
Kolevzon et al 2019]. Catatonia occurs more frequently in females than in males.
Bipolar disorder is reported more commonly in individuals with small deletions and SHANK3 sequence variants (16%) than in individuals with larger deletions (3%).
Prevalence of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder has been estimated at around 5%.
Decreased perception of pain. As a result of decreased perception of pain and lack of expressive communication skills, affected individuals may suffer cuts, scrapes, or even broken bones without indicating that they are in pain. They may suffer ear infections, gastroesophageal reflux, increased intracranial pressure, or other painful medical conditions without indicating discomfort. Caregivers should have a high index of suspicion for a possibly painful organic process when affected individuals display new-onset behavioral issues or aggressive behaviors.
Hypotonia. Newborns with PMS-SHANK3 related have generalized hypotonia that may be associated with weak cry, poor head control, and feeding difficulties leading to slow growth [Frank 2021]. Neonatal hypotonia in individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related may evolve differently with age. In some individuals hypotonia persists throughout adulthood, in others it resolves, and in others it may be replaced by dystonia or, more rarely, hypertonia.
Epilepsy. The lifetime prevalence of seizures is >60% with a wide range in age of onset [de Coo et al 2023]. Other studies have reported an incidence of seizures between 25% and 50%, many of which are febrile and do not require treatment. Both EEG findings and seizure type are highly variable, including grand mal, focal, and absence seizures, and do not correlate with the onset of regression.
Neuroimaging. MRI studies reveal a variety of abnormalities, including delayed myelination, agenesis of the corpus callosum, ventriculomegaly, white matter atrophy and other white matter abnormalities, generous extracerebral space, large cisterna magna, and arachnoid cyst [Soorya et al 2013, Tabet et al 2017, Xu et al 2020].
Volumetric MRI in 11 affected children demonstrated decreased volumes of the striatum and left pallidum and reduced volume of the cerebellar vermis, which was associated with increased repetitive behavior severity [
Srivastava et al 2019].
Volumetric investigations have also shown global atrophy of the white matter correlated with structural connectivity losses suggestive of accelerated central nervous system aging [
Jesse et al 2023].
In individuals with a ring chromosome 22, MRI studies may show
NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2)-related changes, including acoustic neuromas, vestibular schwannomas, meningiomas, and/or ependymomas [
Srivastava et al 2023] (see
Ring chromosome 22 below).
Sleep disturbances. Up to 90% of individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related were reported by caregivers to have a sleep disturbance, although only 22% had a formal sleep evaluation [Bro et al 2017]. Sleep problems are a major disruptor of family health and functioning, negatively impacting the well-being of caregivers, with more than 40% of caregivers averaging six or fewer hours of sleep per night [Bro et al 2017, San José Cáceres et al 2023].
The prevalence of sleep disturbances increases with age, with a rate of 53% in toddlers to 90% in adults [
Moffitt et al 2022].
The primary sleep disturbances include difficulty falling asleep, frequent nighttime awakenings, difficulty returning to sleep after a nighttime awakening event, and hypersomnia and parasomnias, including enuresis, night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep apnea.
Distinct metabolic profiles indicated a minor disruption of the major metabolic pathways involved in energy production in those with sleep disturbances [
Moffitt et al 2023].
Eyes/vision. The most common ocular abnormality is strabismus, which is seen in fewer than one quarter of affected individuals [Srivastava et al 2023]. Ptosis has been reported in anywhere from 3% to 57% of affected individuals but is not severe enough to obstruct vision. Most affected individuals have normal vision, although hyperopia and myopia have been reported. The following features have been observed in some affected individuals:
Cortical visual impairment, characterized by extensive use of peripheral vision. Blindness and optic nerve hypoplasia have been associated with cortical visual impairment [
Phelan et al 2010].
Difficulty in processing cluttered images
Problems with depth perception
A tendency to look away from objects before reaching for them
Hearing. True hearing loss is reported in about 9% of affected individuals [Samogy-Costa et al 2019, Xu et al 2020, Schön et al 2023], although delayed response to verbal cues, difficulty discerning spoken words from background noise, and frequent ear infections may contribute to the perception that hearing is impaired. The risk of hearing loss is increased in individuals with ring chromosome 22 due to association with NF2 (see Ring chromosome 22 below).
Renal. Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence are frequent, although incontinence may be no more common in PMS-SHANK3 related than in other neurodevelopmental disorders [Srivastava et al 2023]. The frequency of renal abnormalities ranges from 10%-40% in individuals with deletions greater than 1 Mb but is not reported in individuals with SHANK3 pathogenic sequence variants or small deletions involving only SHANK3 [De Rubeis et al 2018, Nevado et al 2022, McCoy et al 2024]. Renal anomalies include:
Gastrointestinal. Gastroesophageal reflux is seen in approximately 24% of affected individuals [Schön et al 2023], whereas constipation and diarrhea are reported in about 28% [Soorya et al 2013, Tabet et al 2017, De Rubeis et al 2018, Samogy-Costa et al 2019].
Growth. Intrauterine growth in PMS-SHANK3 related is appropriate for gestational age; the mean gestational age is 38.2 weeks. In most affected individuals, postnatal growth is normal. Overall, 16% of individuals have macrocephaly and 15% have microcephaly [Schön et al 2023]. About 10% are below the 3rd centile in length/height, while 20% are above the 95th centile [Schön et al 2023].
Weight is not increased, giving some of the children a tall, thin appearance.
Whereas children may have increased height for age, adults tend to fall within the normal range for height.
Most adults are also within the normal range for weight, although inactivity and overeating (possibly a manifestation of compulsive mouthing) result in increased weight gain in approximately 10% of affected individuals.
Endocrinologic
Hypothyroidism occurs in 3%-6% of affected individuals [
Soorya et al 2013,
Sarasua et al 2014a]. Symptoms include lethargy, loss of interest, weight gain, and decline in skills and typically manifest in teens or young adults (see
Management).
Dental. Malocclusion is the most frequently encountered dental problem. Poor muscle tone, incessant chewing, tooth grinding, and tongue thrusting may contribute to malocclusion. Malocclusion may be accompanied by drooling and difficulty swallowing and may contribute to difficulties in verbalization.
Lymphedema and recurrent cellulitis have been observed in approximately 10% of individuals, typically becoming problematic during the teen and adult years.
The majority of cases are found in individuals with 22q13 deletions, occurring in only about 1% of individuals with intragenic
SHANK3 pathogenetic variants [
Srivastava et al 2023].
Progressive lymphedema leading to pleural effusions has been reported in a female with PMS-
SHANK3 related resulting from a ring chromosome r(22)(p11.2q12.3) [
McGaughran et al 2010].
CELSR1 has been proposed as the major candidate gene for lymphedema [
Smith et al 2023].
Dysmorphic features / craniofacial. Among the most common and striking craniofacial features are long eyelashes, pointed chin, broad nose, wide nasal bridge, bulbous nose, malocclusion, and periorbital fullness. Other physical findings include large, fleshy hands and abnormal ears.
The characteristics may change over time, particularly if the individual is on anticonvulsants that tend to coarsen the features.
Adults have a more prominent, square jaw and less bulbous-appearing nose.
Other less common features include dolichocephaly, strabismus, and abnormal toenails that may be dysplastic, thin, and flaky in the neonate and toddler but may harden and become ingrown as the individual ages.
Fingernails are usually normal but occasionally may be thin and dysplastic.
Cardiac. Various congenital heart defects have been reported, including aortic regurgitation, patent ductus arteriosus, total anomalous venous return, atrial septal defect, and tricuspid valve regurgitation; estimates of the incidence of congenital heart defects range from 3% to 25% [Phelan & McDermid 2012, Soorya et al 2013, Kolevzon et al 2014a, Schön et al 2023].
Malignancy. An atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) has been reported in at least four affected individuals, three of whom had a ring chromosome 22, whereas the other had a 7.2-Mb deletion of 22q13 [Korones et al 1999, Sathyamoorthi et al 2009, Cho et al 2014, Byers et al 2017]. At present, there are no consensus cancer screening recommendations for ATRT in PMS-SHANK3 related (see also Ring chromosome 22 below).
Adulthood. Longitudinal data are insufficient to determine life expectancy. However, life-threatening or life-limiting cardiac, pulmonary, or other organ system defects are not common. The paucity of older adults with PMS-SHANK3 related reflects the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis prior to the advent of high-resolution chromosome analysis, FISH, and CMA.
In older individuals, behavioral problems tend to subside, developmental abilities improve, and some features such as large or fleshy hands, full or puffy eyelids, hypotonia, lax ligaments, and hyperextensible joints are reported as less frequent [Sarasua et al 2014a]. Late-onset seizures, unexplained weight loss, and loss of motor skills may occur in older individuals, adversely affecting quality of life and life expectancy. In general, individuals with intellectual impairment tend to have a short life span compared to the general population due to lack of exercise, poor diet, decreased access to health care, poor hygiene, etc.
Ring chromosome 22. Individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related as a result of a ring chromosome 22 have a specific risk of developing NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2). Ziats et al [2020] reported a 16% prevalence of NF2 among 44 individuals with PMS-SHANK3 related and a ring chromosome 22.
NF2 (pathogenic variants in which cause NF2) is at 22q12.2 adjacent to the PMS-SHANK3 related deletion region. The risk for NF2 is due to the instability of ring chromosomes during mitosis and follows a two-hit model. The first hit is the loss of the ring chromosome 22 during mitosis, making a cell hemizygous for chromosome 22. The second hit is a somatic mutation of the remaining NF2 allele [Zirn et al 2012].
Children with a ring chromosome 22 should be monitored for NF2 in the same manner as if they had an affected parent. This includes baseline and annual ocular, dermal, and neurologic examinations between ages two and ten years with annual audiology screening and brain MRI every two years after age ten years [Lyons-Warren et al 2017].
Mosaic 22q13.3 deletion. Mosaic 22q13.3 deletion has been reported on occasion. The level of mosaicism for 22q13.3 deletion varies among affected individuals. Note: Because most testing is performed on blood samples, because the level of mosaicism in blood can change over time, and because the level of mosaicism in the blood is not representative of the level of mosaicism in the brain and other tissues, the level of mosaicism that is sufficient for expression of the major features of PMS-SHANK3 related is unknown.
Mosaicism is particularly common in 22q13 deletion associated with ring chromosomes because of the instability of the ring structure during cell division. Low-level mosaicism for monosomy 22 or dicentric ring chromosome 22 should be interpreted with caution, as either abnormality might represent an in vitro artifact. Despite this, one adult with characteristic features of PMS-SHANK3 related showed ring chromosome 22 in only 8% of blood cells [K Phelan, unpublished data].