Clinical Description
Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) has a clinically recognizable phenotype that includes physical, developmental, and behavioral features (Table 2). The phenotypic features can be subtle in infancy and early childhood, frequently delaying diagnosis until school age, when the characteristic facial appearance and behavioral phenotype may be more readily apparent.
Table 2.
Clinical Features of Smith-Magenis Syndrome
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Frequency | System | Finding |
---|
>75% of individuals | Craniofacial/ Skeletal/ Growth | Brachycephaly Midface retrusion Relative prognathism w/age Broad, square-shaped face Everted, "tented" vermilion of the upper lip Deep-set, close-spaced eyes Short broad hands Dental anomalies (missing premolars; taurodontism) >90%ile for weight, w/abdominal fat deposition (esp after age 10 yrs)
|
Neurobehavioral | Infantile hypotonia Generalized complacency/lethargy (infancy) Oral sensorimotor dysfunction (early childhood) Sensory processing issues Developmental delay / cognitive impairment Speech/language impairment Sleep disturbance Inverted circadian rhythm of melatonin Attention-seeking behaviors Inattention ± hyperactivity Tantrums, behavioral dysregulation Impulsivity Stereotypic behaviors Self-injurious behaviors Hyporeflexia Signs of peripheral neuropathy
|
Otolaryngologic |
|
Common (50%-75% of individuals) | | Short stature Scoliosis Mild ventriculomegaly of brain Hyperacusis Tracheobronchial problems Velopharyngeal insufficiency Ocular abnormalities (strabismus, myopia, iris anomalies, &/or microcornea) REM sleep abnormalities Hypercholesterolemia/hypertriglyceridemia Chronic constipation Abnormal EEG w/out overt seizures Features of autism spectrum disorder
|
Less common (25%-50% of individuals) | |
|
Occasional (<25% of individuals) | |
|
- 1.
Frequency varies by study.
Facial appearance. The facial appearance is characterized by a broad square-shaped face, brachycephaly, prominent forehead, synophrys, mildly upslanted palpebral fissures, deep-set eyes, broad nasal bridge, midfacial retrusion (formerly known as midfacial hypoplasia), short, full-tipped nose with reduced nasal height, micrognathia in infancy (see ) changing to relative prognathia with age, and a distinct appearance of the mouth, with fleshy everted vermilion of the upper lip.
The facial appearance of SMS becomes more recognizable in early childhood (see , ), with persisting midfacial retrusion, relative prognathism, and heavy brows with coarsening facial appearance.
Neurologic
Hypotonia is reported in virtually all infants, accompanied by hyporeflexia (84%) and generalized complacency and lethargy.
Clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy are seen in approximately 75%, regardless of deletion size [
Gropman et al 2006].
In infancy / early childhood, these include infantile hypotonia, hyporeflexia, relative insensitivity to pain, and mild intention tremor (6-8 Hz) of upper extremity [
Gropman et al 2006].
In later childhood, affected children often exhibit a characteristic appearance of the legs and feet observed in peripheral nerve syndromes or neuropathies (i.e, "inverted champagne bottle appearance") with pes cavus or pes planus deformity, and unusual broad-based gait (foot flap).
Pubertal onset of catamenial seizures has also been observed in some females coinciding with menses [
Smith & Gropman 2021].
Stroke-like episodes have been reported in three individuals with SMS, including:
A male born with bilateral cleft lip/palate and congenital heart defect who developed a left hemiparesis at age 4.5 years [
Smith & Gropman 2021];
A female age ten years with ventricular septal defect, who was diagnosed with Moyamoya disease and had evidence of ischemic changes at age five years [
Girirajan et al 2007];
A female age 32 years with evidence of severe atherosclerotic disease of the intracranial vessels documented after she suffered an ischemic infarct postoperatively following repeat cardiac surgery [
Chaudhry et al 2007].
Therefore, pre-surgical evaluation for possible premature cerebrovascular disease is recommended for individuals with SMS who require open-heart surgery in adolescence or adulthood [
Chaudhry et al 2007].
Neurodevelopmental features. Developmental delays are evident in early childhood, with the majority of individuals with SMS functioning in the mild-to-moderate range of intellectual disability. Due to the maladaptive behaviors and sleep deficits, true intellectual ability may not be accurately assessed in many individuals and test scores may not be representative of an individual's current level of functioning. When reported, measured developmental or intelligence quotients range from 20 to 78 with a mean score of approximately 50. Individuals with heterozygous deletion of 17p11.2 are more cognitively impaired than those with intragenic RAI1 pathogenic variants [Edelman et al 2007].
Gross and fine motor skills are delayed in the first year of life and may be exacerbated by generalized hypotonia. Issues related to sensory integration are frequently noted [
Hildenbrand & Smith 2012].
Speech/language
In infancy, crying is infrequent and often hoarse.
The vast majority of infants show markedly decreased babbling and vocalization for age.
By age two to three years, significant expressive language deficits relative to receptive language skills are recognized [
Wolters et al 2009].
With appropriate intervention and a total communication program that includes sign/gesture language and other augmentative communication approaches, verbal speech generally develops by school age; however, articulation problems usually persist. Speech intensity may be mildly elevated with a rapid rate and moderate explosiveness, accompanied by hypernasality and hoarse vocal quality.
Cognitive abilities
Affected individuals typically have relative weaknesses observed in sequential processing and short-term memory.
Relative strengths are in long-term memory and perceptual closure (i.e., a process whereby an incomplete visual stimulus is perceived to be complete: "parts of a whole").
Behavioral phenotype. The behavioral phenotype, which includes sleep disturbance (see Sleep disturbance), maladaptive and self-injurious behaviors (SIB), and stereotypies, is generally not recognized until age 18 months or older and escalates with age, often coinciding with expected life-cycle stages: 18-24 months, school age, and onset of puberty [Gropman et al 2006].
Maladaptive behaviors in people with SMS reflect a complex interplay between physiology and environment that may be further compounded by an underlying developmental asynchrony: specifically, emotional maturity delayed beyond intellectual functioning [
Finucane & Haas-Givler 2009].
With age, the gap between intellectual attainment and emotional development appears to widen for many people with SMS, and this disparity poses significant behavioral and programmatic challenges in older children and adults.
One study found that 90% of individuals with SMS (between ages 4 and 18 years) demonstrated significant social impairment (35% mild/moderate; 55% severe range per the Social Responsiveness Scale) per parent report, with symptoms that overlap those of children with autistic disorder or other developmental disorders [
Laje et al 2010b].
Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) are present in the vast majority of individuals after age two years [Arron et al 2011, Sloneem et al 2011].
Note: Given the high rates of SIB, including self-insertion of objects or digits into body orifices, caution must be taken when evaluating individuals with SMS for maltreatment or abuse. Although individuals with intellectual impairment are at high risk for maltreatment, abuse may also be incorrectly suspected due to SIB or self-insertion behaviors.
Sensory integration issues are present and persist throughout childhood. A prominent pattern of sensory processing difficulties is recognized, characterized by an imbalance in neurologic thresholds and a fluctuation between active and passive self-regulation [Hildenbrand & Smith 2012].
Other maladaptive behaviors may include:
Head banging, which may begin as early as age 18 months
Frequent outbursts / temper tantrums
Attention-seeking behaviors (especially from adults)
Impulsivity, which may increase over time, particularly in females [
Martin et al 2006]
Inattention with or without hyperactivity
Oppositional behaviors
Aggression
Rapid mood shifts
Anxiety, which can become a major issue in adolescence and adulthood
Toileting difficulties
Sterotypies common to SMS include:
The spasmodic upper-body squeeze or "self-hug" behavior, which may provide an effective clinical diagnostic marker for the syndrome.
Mouthing of hands or objects that persists from early childhood to ages where this is not socially acceptable.
Teeth grinding
Body rocking
Spinning or twirling objects
Finger lick and repetitive page turning ("lick and flip") behavior [
Vieira et al 2012]
Sleep disturbance. The abnormal diurnal (inverted) circadian rhythm of melatonin appears pathognomonic in SMS, documented in an estimated 95% of affected individuals [Boone et al 2011, Spruyt et al 2016]. Further data [Boudreau et al 2009] suggest that the sleep disturbance cannot be caused solely by aberrant melatonin synthesis and/or degradation as previously suggested [Potocki et al 2000b, De Leersnyder et al 2001, Chik et al 2010, Nováková et al 2012]. While not inverted, the 24-hour circadian rhythm of body temperature is phase advanced by about three hours relative to controls [Smith et al 2019].
The sleep disturbance is characterized by fragmented and shortened sleep cycles with frequent nocturnal and early morning awakenings and excessive daytime sleepiness [Greenberg et al 1996, Smith et al 1998, Potocki et al 2000b, De Leersnyder et al 2001, Smith & Duncan 2005].
Growth and feeding
At birth, weight, length, and head circumference are generally in the normal range.
Feeding difficulties in infancy leading to failure to thrive are common, including marked oral motor dysfunction with poor suck and swallow and textural aversion.
In early infancy, length and weight gradually decelerate; short stature (height <5th centile) is frequently observed (67%) especially at young ages but may not persist into adulthood.
Dietary preferences, hyperphagia, and food foraging at night (especially at older ages), coupled with a general sedentary lifestyle and psychotropic medication side effects (affecting appetite / weight gain), contribute to obesity (increased BMI), typically beginning in school-aged children (ages 6-9 years).
Gastrointestinal. Gastroesophageal reflux and constipation are frequently reported.
Oral and dental anomalies
Musculoskeletal
Mild-to-moderate scoliosis, most commonly of the mid-thoracic region, is seen in approximately 60% of affected individuals age four years and older, although vertebral anomalies are seen in only a few.
Hands and feet remain small.
Markedly flat or highly arched feet and unusual gait are generally observed.
Ocular abnormalities are present in approximately 85% of affected individuals and include strabismus, progressive myopia, iris anomalies, and/or microcornea. About 20% of affected individuals older than age ten years experience retinal detachment, which may be due to a combination of aggressive/self-injurious behaviors and high myopia.
Ears and hearing
Laryngeal anomalies, including polyps, nodules, edema, or partial vocal cord paralysis, are common.
Velopharyngeal insufficiency and/or structural vocal-fold abnormalities without reported vocal hyperfunction are seen in the vast majority of individuals with SMS.
Functional impairments in voice (hoarseness) may contribute to the marked delays in expressive speech.
Cardiovascular defects are identified in fewer than 50% of affected individuals with SMS who have a deletion of 17p11.2 but have not been reported in those who have a heterozygous pathogenic variant in RAI1. Cardiac anomalies may include mild tricuspid or mitral valve stenosis or regurgitation, ventricular septal defects, supravalvular aortic or pulmonic stenosis, atrial septal defects, and tetralogy of Fallot [Smith & Gropman 2021].
Genitourinary anomalies are found in between 15% and 35% of affected individuals who have a deletion of 17p11.2 but have not been reported in those who have a heterozygous pathogenic variant in RAI1. Anomalies may include the following [Smith et al 1986, Greenberg et al 1996, Chou et al 2002, Myers et al 2007]:
Duplicated collecting system
Unilateral renal agenesis and ectopic kidney
Ureterovesical obstruction
Malposition of the ureterovesical junction
Additionally, a vast majority of affected individuals have nocturnal enuresis in childhood. Genital anomalies reported include cryptorchidism, shawl, or undeveloped scrotum in males, and infantile cervix and/or hypoplastic uterus in females [Smith & Gropman 2021].
Immunologic. More than 50% of affected individuals have low serum immunoglobulin profiles, which may increase susceptibility to sinopulmonary infections. Recurrent otitis media (88%), upper respiratory infections (61%), pneumonia (47%), and/or sinusitis (42%) requiring antibiotics are frequently reported [Perkins et al 2017].
Endocrine. The specific incidence of endocrine abnormalities in individuals with SMS remains undefined.
About 25% of affected individuals have mild hypothyroidism.
Puberty typically occurs within the normal time frame; however, precocious puberty (premature adrenarche), premature ovarian failure [Smith, personal communication], and delayed sexual maturation have been observed.
While short stature occurs in SMS, only one published case of isolated growth hormone deficiency has been reported [
Itoh et al 2004]. When growth hormone profiles are studied, peak levels appear in the proper phase of the day with levels only slightly below normal controls [
De Leersnyder et al 2001,
De Leersnyder et al 2006].
Adrenal aplasia/hypoplasia was described in one affected male age 11 months who died unexpectedly after palatoplasty [
Denny et al 1992].
Dermatology. In addition to skin problems due to self-injurious behaviors, a minority of affected individuals have rosy cheeks (which may be related to drooling and/or eczema) and/or hyperkeratosis (~20%) over the hands, feet, or knees.
Malignancy and other features of Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome. The risk of cancer appears to be no greater than in the general population for most individuals with SMS. However, SMS due to a heterozygous 17p11.2 deletion often results in haploinsufficiency of FLCN that is associated with BHD syndrome, an adult-onset hereditary cancer syndrome characterized by cutaneous fibrofolliculomas, pulmonary cysts, spontaneous pneumothorax, and renal tumors. Features of BHD syndrome have been described in several individuals with SMS.
Other
A male with SMS and a confirmed
RAI1 nonsense variant had three spontaneous pneumothoraces between ages five and ten years [
Truong et al 2010].
Prognosis. Insufficient longitudinal data are available to accurately determine life expectancy. One would expect that, in the absence of major organ involvement, the life expectancy of individuals with SMS would not differ from that of individuals with cognitive impairment at large. Anecdotally, the oldest known individual with SMS lived to age 88 years [Smith & Magenis, personal communication]. In the month prior to her death, she was reportedly her usual alert, happy, "SMS" self with ongoing sleep issues and was being treated for chronic recurrent sinusitis. Four days prior to death, she suffered an apparent right-sided stroke with left-sided weakness. No autopsy was performed.