MedGen

Classic hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) is characterized by a substantial elevation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in adult red blood cells. There are no other phenotypic or hematologic manifestations. Expression of the HBG1 and HBG2 genes, which encode the gamma isoforms of HbF, is normally suppressed shortly before birth and replaced by expression of the beta- (HBB; 141900) or delta- (HBD; 142000) chains, which form adult hemoglobin. Adults normally have less than 1% HbF, whereas heterozygotes for HPFH have 5 to 30% HbF. HPFH heterozygotes have essentially normal red cell indices and a rather homogeneous distribution of HbF among red cells, termed 'pancellular.' Homozygotes for HPFH can express HbF in up to 100% of red blood cells (Thein and Craig, 1998). Delta-beta thalassemia is a hemoglobin disorder characterized by decreased or absent synthesis of the delta- and beta-globin chains with a compensatory increase in expression of fetal gamma-chain synthesis from the affected chromosome. Individuals with delta-beta thalassemia have hypochromic, microcytic anemia and increased HbF, which may mitigate the anemia depending on the level of HbF. Delta-beta thalassemia and some forms of HPFH result from deletions within the beta-globin gene cluster on chromosome 11p15; this has been referred to as 'deletional' HPFH. HPFH can also result from point mutations in the promoter regions of the gamma globulin genes HBG1 and HBG2; this has been referred to as 'non-deletional' HPFH (Ottolenghi et al., 1982; Forget, 1998). Forget (1998) noted that HPFH and delta-beta thalassemia are not clearly distinct disorders, but rather show partially overlapping features that may defy classification. Higher expression of HbF is often termed 'pancellular,' whereas lower expression of HbF is often termed 'heterocellular,' although these represent a spectrum. Approximately 10% of the population has HPFH manifest as modest elevations of HbF (1 to 4%) present in a subset of red cells (about 4.5%) termed F cells. This is also sometimes referred to as 'heterocellular' HPFH, and is considered to be a multifactorial trait influenced by multiple genetic loci (Thein and Craig, 1998). [from OMIM]

Macular dystrophies are inherited retinal dystrophies in which various forms of deposits, pigmentary changes, and atrophic lesions are observed in the macula lutea, the cone-rich region of the central retina. Vitelliform macular dystrophies (VMDs) form a subset of macular dystrophies characterized by round yellow deposits, usually at the center of the macula and containing lipofuscin, a chemically heterogeneous pigment visualized by autofluorescence imaging of the fundus (summary by Manes et al., 2013). Vitelliform macular dystrophy-4 (VMD4) is characterized by late-onset moderate visual impairment, small satellite drusen-like lesions in the foveal area, preservation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) reflectivity, deposits above the RPE between the ellipsoid and outer segment interdigitation lines on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and normal or borderline results on electrooculography (EOG) (Meunier et al., 2014). In most families with VMD4 caused by compound heterozygous or homozygous mutations in IMPG1, asymptomatic heterozygous carriers have been found to have fundus changes (Manes et al., 2013; Brandl et al., 2017). Brandl et al. (2017) examined patients with VMD4, caused by mutation in the IMPG1 gene, and patients with VMD5 (616152), caused by mutation in the IMPG2 gene, and observed strikingly similar phenotypic characteristics. They noted that retinal lesions progressed in consecutive stages, with the initial development of a single vitelliform lesion in the central macula, with detachment of the neurosensory retina and hyperreflective material located above a preserved Bruch membrane/RPE on SD-OCT. Next, resorption of the hyperreflective material occurs, leaving behind a dome-shaped, optically empty cavity; alternatively, the foveal cavity formed by retinal detachment may become successively filled with material. Finally, there is collapse of the cavity with central retinal atrophy and loss of RPE, resulting in the most pronounced loss of visual acuity. The authors also noted that symptoms tended to be more severe in patients with IMPG1 mutations. For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of vitelliform macular dystrophy, see VMD1 (153840). [from OMIM]

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) belongs to a group of congenital hepatorenal fibrocystic syndromes and is a cause of significant renal and liver-related morbidity and mortality in children. The majority of individuals with ARPKD present in the neonatal period with enlarged echogenic kidneys. Renal disease is characterized by nephromegaly, hypertension, and varying degrees of renal dysfunction. More than 50% of affected individuals with ARPKD progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) within the first decade of life; ESRD may require kidney transplantation. Pulmonary hypoplasia resulting from oligohydramnios occurs in a number of affected infants. Approximately 30% of these infants die in the neonatal period or within the first year of life from respiratory insufficiency or superimposed pulmonary infections. With neonatal respiratory support and renal replacement therapies, the long-term survival of these infants has improved to greater than 80%. As advances in renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation improve long-term survival, it is likely that clinical hepatobiliary disease will become a major feature of the natural history of ARPKD. In addition, a subset of individuals with this disorder are identified with hepatosplenomegaly; the renal disease is often mild and may be discovered incidentally during imaging studies of the abdomen. Approximately 50% of infants will have clinical evidence of liver involvement at diagnosis although histologic hepatic fibrosis is invariably present at birth. This can lead to progressive portal hypertension with resulting esophageal or gastric varices, enlarged hemorrhoids, splenomegaly, hypersplenism, protein-losing enteropathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Other hepatic findings include nonobstructed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts (Caroli syndrome) and dilatation of the common bile duct, which may lead to recurrent or persistent bacterial ascending cholangitis due to dilated bile ducts and stagnant bile flow. An increasing number of affected individuals surviving the neonatal period will eventually require portosystemic shunting or liver transplantation for complications of portal hypertension or cholangitis. The classic neonatal presentation of ARPKD notwithstanding, there is significant variability in age and presenting clinical symptoms related to the relative degree of renal and biliary abnormalities. [from GeneReviews]

Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-18 (LGMDR18) is characterized by childhood-onset of proximal muscle weakness resulting in gait abnormalities and scapular winging. Serum creatine kinase is increased. A subset of patients may show a hyperkinetic movement disorder with chorea, ataxia, or dystonia and global developmental delay (summary by Bogershausen et al., 2013). Additional more variable features include alacrima, achalasia, cataracts, or hepatic steatosis (Liang et al., 2015; Koehler et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, see LGMDR1 (253600). [from OMIM]

The disorder of congenital mirror movements (CMM) is characterized by early-onset, obvious mirror movements (involuntary movements of one side of the body that mirror intentional movements on the opposite side) in individuals who typically have no other clinical signs or symptoms. Although mirror movements vary in severity, most affected individuals have strong and sustained mirror movements of a lesser amplitude than the corresponding voluntary movements. Mirror movements usually persist throughout life, without deterioration or improvement, and are not usually associated with subsequent onset of additional neurologic manifestations. However, a subset of affected individuals with a heterozygous pathogenic variant in DCC may have CMM with abnormalities of the corpus callosum and concomitant cognitive and/or neuropsychiatric issues. [from GeneReviews]

Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 is most often associated with infection of the oral mucosa. Primary infection is most commonly asymptomatic, but it may lead to symptoms usually involving the mucosa and skin. Following replication at the infection site, HSV-1 enters the epithelial endings of sensory neurons and travels up the trigeminal cranial nerves to the trigeminal ganglia, where latent infection is established. Reactivation of HSV-1, usually in the form of herpes labialis (cold sores), may occur in 20 to 40% of the population. HSV-1 seroprevalence is high, with over 85% of adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years infected. HSV-1 rarely infects the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), with an incidence of 2 to 4 per 1,000,000 people per year. In HSE, HSV-1 invades and replicates in neurons and glial cells, where focal necrotizing infections occur, primarily affecting the temporal and subfrontal regions of the brain. Untreated, HSE is fatal in at least 70% of cases, although the mortality and morbidity have been drastically reduced with antiviral therapy. Approximately one-third of all HSE cases are due to primary infections, and 30% of all HSE cases occur in children under the age of 20 years. Among children, HSE peaks between 3 months and 3 years of age, coinciding with the time of primary infection. In a subset of children, HSE results from a series of monogenic primary immunodeficiencies that impair UNC93B1- and TLR3 (603029)-dependent production of IFNA (147660)/IFNB (147640) and IFNG (147570) in the CNS (summary by Sancho-Shimizu et al., 2007). Genetic Heterogeneity of Susceptibility to Acute Infection-Induced Encephalopathy, including Herpes Simplex Encephalitis (HSE) For other forms of susceptibility to acute infection-induced encephalopathy, see herpes-specific IIAE2 (613002), caused by mutation in the TLR3 gene (603029) on chromosome 4q35; IIAE3 (608033), caused by mutation in the RANBP2 gene (601181) on chromosome 2q12; IIAE4 (614212), caused by mutation in the CPT2 gene (600650) on chromosome 1p32; herpes-specific IIAE5 (614849), caused by mutation in the TRAF3 gene (601896) on chromosome 14q32; herpes-specific IIAE6 (614850), caused by mutation in the TICAM1 gene (607601) on chromosome 19p13; herpes-specific IIAE7 (616532), caused by mutation in the IRF3 gene (603734) on chromosome 19q13; herpes-specific IIAE8 (617900), caused by mutation in the TBK1 gene (604834) on chromosome 12q14; IIAE9 (618426), caused by mutation in the NUP214 gene (114350) on chromosome 9q34; herpes-specific IIAE10 (619396), caused by mutation in the SNORA31 (619378) on chromosome 13q14; IIAE11 (619441), caused by mutation in the DBR1 gene (607024) on chromosome 3q22; and IIAE12 (620461), caused by mutation in the RNH1 gene (173320) on chromosome 11p15. [from OMIM]

Progressive intrahepatic cholestasis-7 with or without hearing loss (PFIC7) is an autosomal recessive liver disorder characterized by infantile-onset jaundice and itching associated with cholestasis, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and normal gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Liver biopsy shows hepatocellular and canalicular cholestasis with fibrotic changes. Many patients have resolution of the liver abnormalities with age, although some may have persistent liver enzyme abnormalities or splenomegaly. A subset of patients develops hearing loss in childhood between early infancy and the teenage years. Rifampicin may be effective for pruritis (summary by Maddirevula et al., 2019). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of PFIC, see PFIC1 (211600). [from OMIM]