PAEDS - GENETICS/ENDOCRINE Flashcards
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is non-disjunction?
What is the outcome?
Management?
Karyotype?
- Error in meiosis where pair of chromosomes fail to separate so one gamete has 2 chromosome copies and one has none
- Fertilisation of the gamete with 2 chromosomes gives rise to a trisomy
- Parental chromosomes do not need to be examined, related to maternal age
- 47 chromosomes
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is Robertsonian translocation?
Karyotype?
- Extra copy of one chromosome is joined onto another chromosome
- 46 chromosomes but 3 copies of one chromosomes material
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is the management of Robertsonian translocation?
- Parental chromosomes analysis is needed, one parent may be carrier
- Translocation carriers have 45 chromosomes on karyotype (one is in wrong place)
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What are the 3 types of Mendelian inheritance?
- Autosomal dominant
- Autosomal recessive
- X-linked (recessive)
GENETICS OVERVIEW
In terms of autosomal dominant inheritance…
i) inheritance chance?
ii) general rule?
iii) pattern of inheritance?
iv) examples?
i) 50%
ii) AD = structural protein defects
iii) No skipped generations, inherited regardless of sex
iv) Adult PCKD, familial hypercholesterolaemia, Marfan’s, Huntington’s disease, BRCA genes
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What are some reasons for autosomal dominant conditions presenting in families with no family history?
- # 1 = non-paternity
- New mutation
- Gonadal mosaicism
GENETICS OVERVIEW
In terms of autosomal recessive inheritance…
i) inheritance chance?
ii) general rule?
iii) requirements to develop disease?
iv) carrier risk in siblings?
v) examples?
i) 25% from 2 carrier parents
ii) AR = affects metabolic pathways
iii) Two germline mutations (2 carrier parents)
iv) 2 in 3 (66%) as you take away possibility of them having the disease
v) CF, phenylketonuria, haemochromatosis
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is a big risk factor for autosomal recessive conditions?
What is the outcome?
- Consanguineous parents, esp. if many generations of it
- Can give appearance of AD pedigree for a recessive condition
- Particularly in people with Asian origin
GENETICS OVERVIEW
In terms of X-linked recessive inheritance…
i) who is affected?
ii) who transmits?
iii) what can occur in females?
iv) examples?
i) Males more than females
ii) NO male-male transmission but affected males can produce a carrier female
iii) Gonadal mosaicism may occur influenced by X inactivation (lyonisation)
iv) Haemophilia A, Duchenne’s + Becker’s, colour blindness
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is genomic imprinting + uniparental disomy?
Give an example
- Most genes both copies are expressed, some genes are only maternally or paternally expressed (imprinting)
- Prader-Willi + Angelman’s syndrome both caused by either cytogenic deletions of the same region of chromosome 15q or by uniparental disomy of chromosome 15
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What do mitochondrial diseases lead to?
What is the inheritance?
Give some examples
- Responsible for ATP production so if abnormal > poor production + hence myopathies
- Exclusively maternally inherited from circular mitochondrial DNA in cytoplasm of ovum (sperm mitochondria in tail)
- Myoclonic epilepsy, ragged red fibres (MERRF), mitochondrially inherited DM + deafness (DIDMOAD)
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is gonadal mosaicism?
- Some cells have mutations in genes giving rise to a particular phenotype e.g. birthmarks
- Gonadal mosaicism is when germ cells involved
GENETICS OVERVIEW
Explain the process of gonadal mosaicism
- Father = mosaic sperm (some sperm with mutated gene, some sperm normal)
- Mother = all eggs with normal gene
- Offspring = fertilised egg > union of male DNA (sperm) with mutated gene + female DNA (egg) with normal gene
- Every cell of embryo has one copy of mutated + one copy of normal
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What are 3 ways of testing genes?
- DNA analysis via polymerase chain reaction to amplify the DNA + determine the sequence of the relevant gene
- Karyotyping (look at # of chromosomes, their size + basic structure)
- Molecular cytogenic analysis = fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) to detect presence, # + chromosomal location of specific sequences
GENETICS OVERVIEW
What is the purpose of DNA analysis?
- Antenatal Dx (amniocentesis or CVS)
- Confirm clinical Dx
- Detect female carriers for X-linked disorders
- Detect carriers of AR disorders
- Pre-symptomatic diagnosis of AD disorders like Huntington’s disease
GENETICS OVERVIEW
In the case of Huntington’s disease, can healthy children be tested if parents consent for them?
- No, have to be old enough to give informed consent themselves
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What is Down’s syndrome?
What is the life expectancy?
- Trisomy 21 (3x copies of chromosome 21)
- About 60y
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What are some risk factors?
- Increasing maternal age #1 (1 in 100 by 40y, increased nondisjunction),
- FHx
- mother has Down’s (rare)
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What are the causes of Down’s syndrome?
- Nondisjunction (95%) leaves cell with extra C21 so trisomy on fertilisation
- Robertsonian translocation (4%) = long arm of C21 translocate to C14 often
- Mosaicism (1%) = cells have mixed amounts of chromosomes
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What is the classical craniofacial appearance in Down’s syndrome?
- Flat occiput (brachycephaly) + flat bridge of nose
- Upward sloping palpebral fissures (eyes slant down + inwards)
- Prominent epicanthic folds (skin overlying medial portion of eye + eyelid)
- Short neck + stature
- Small mouth, protruding tongue, small ears
- Brushfield spots in iris (pigmented spots)
DOWN’S SYNDROME
Other than craniofacial anomalies, what other anomalies can be seen in Down’s syndrome?
- Widely separated first + second toe (sandal gap)
- Hypotonia
- Single transverse palmar (simian) crease
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What are some complications of Down’s syndrome?
- LDs + delayed motor milestones
- Complete AVSD
- Atlantoaxial instability = risk of neck dislocation during sports
- Hypothyroidism, duodenal atresia, Hirschsprung’s
- Hearing + visual impairment, strabismus
- Increased ALL + early-onset dementia
DOWN’S SYNDROME
How is Down’s syndrome diagnosed?
- Women offered antenatal screening/testing (combined test, CVS, amniocentesis)
- Clinical suspicion + then FISH for Dx when born
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What regular investigations are required for Down’s syndrome?
- Regular thyroid checks (every 2y)
- ECHO to Dx any cardiac defects
- Regular audiometry + eye checks
DOWN’S SYNDROME
What is the management of Down’s syndrome?
MDT –
- Specialist Dr’s (CHD, hypothyroid)
- Social services (social care + benefits)
- Optician + audiologist
- OT/physio/SALT
- Additional support with educational needs
- Charities like Down’s syndrome association
PATAU’S SYNDROME
What is Patau’s syndrome?
- Severe physical + mental congenital abnormalities due to trisomy 13
PATAU’S SYNDROME
What are some clinical features of Patau’s syndrome?
- Microcephalic, scalp lesions, small eyes + other eye defects
- Cleft lip + palate
- Polydactyly (think 13 fingers)
- Cardiac + renal malformations
EDWARD’S SYNDROME
What is Edward’s syndrome?
- Trisomy 18, mostly F
- Severe psychomotor + growth retardation if survive 1st year of life
EDWARD’S SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Edward’s syndrome?
- Prominent occiput
- Small mouth + chin (micrognathia)
- Low set ears
- Flexed, overlapping fingers
- Rocker-bottom feet (flat)
- Cardiac + renal malformations
EDWARD’S SYNDROME
For both Patau’s and Edward’s syndrome, what are the investigations?
- Antenatal abnormalities detected on USS (foetal anomaly scan)
- Prenatal Dx with amniocentesis or CVS via DNA PCR
- Karyotyping genetic analysis confirms at birth
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What is fragile X syndrome?
- Inherited condition, 2nd most common cause of LD
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What causes it?
Trinucleotide expansion repeat of CGG caused by slipped mispairing = ≤44 normal, 60–200 = premutation carriers, >200 = fragile X
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What does fragile X result in?
- Mutation in fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene on X chromosome
- Inadequate FMRP which plays a role in cognitive development
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What sex is affected by fragile X syndrome?
Always males but females vary
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
Why do females vary in how much they are affected by fragile X syndrome?
- Spare copy on other X chromosome + reduced penetrance
- Even with full mutation usually have fewer problems
- Number of CGG repeats often increases as it’s inherited so caution in future
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What are some cognitive features of fragile X syndrome?
- Intellectual disability
- Delay speech + language
- Delayed motor development (may be secondary to hypotonia)
- Aggressive, hyperactive + poor impulse control
- “Cocktail personality” = happy bouncy children
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What are some physical features of fragile X syndrome?
- Long narrow face + large ears
- Large testicles after puberty
- Hypermobile joints (esp. hands)
- Hypersensitivity to stimuli
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What is associated with fragile X syndrome?
- Autism (up to 30%)
- Seizures
- ADHD
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What issues can fragile X premutation carriers suffer from?
- Men can get Fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) = intention tremor, ataxia, memory + cognitive issues as adult, white matter changes on MRI
- Females can get FMR1-related POI (endocrinologist input)
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What are the investigations for fragile X syndrome?
- Carrier testing in pregnancy women, can have CVS or amniocentesis
- FISH to look at content of cells, DNA testing once born to count # of CGG repeats
FRAGILE X SYNDROME
What is the management of fragile X syndrome?
- OT = daily tasks
- Social services = social care + benefits
- Special education = learning help
- Challenging behaviours may benefit from risperidone.
- PO lorazepam in acute agitation (after de-escalation strategies)
TURNER’S SYNDROME
What is Turner’s syndrome?
- Lack of a second X chromosome in a female leading to 45, XO
TURNER’S SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Turner’s syndrome?
- Short stature, webbed neck, shield chest + widely spaced nipples (classic)
- Delayed puberty, underdeveloped ovaries > primary amenorrhoea + infertility
- Cubitus valgus
TURNER’S SYNDROME
What are some complications of Turner’s syndrome?
- Coarctation or bicuspid aortic valve
- Increased risk of CHD > HTN, obesity
- DM, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism
- Recurrent otitis media + UTIs
- Horseshoe kidney, susceptible to x-linked recessive conditions
TURNER’S SYNDROME
What is the investigation of choice for Turner’s syndrome?
- Karyotyping after clinical suspicion = 45XO
TURNER’S SYNDROME
What is the management of Turner’s syndrome?
- GH therapy to prevent short stature
- Oestrogen + progesterone replacement to establish 2ary sex characteristics, regulate menstrual cycle + prevent osteoporosis
- Fertility treatment like IVF
DUCHENNE’S
What is Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- X-linked recessive chromosome 21 = gene deletion for dystrophin (connects muscle fibres to ECM)
DUCHENNE’S
What is the clinical presentation of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- Proximal muscle weakness from 5y
- Delayed milestones
- Waddling gait
- Gower sign +ve
- Calf pseudohypertrophy (replaced by fat + fibrous tissue)
DUCHENNE’S
What is Gower’s sign?
- Patient uses hands + arms to “walk” themselves upright from a squatting position due to lack of hip + thigh muscle strength
DUCHENNE’S
What are some complications of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- Wheelchair by 13y
- Cardiac involvement (dilated cardiomyopathy) in teenagers
- Resp involvement
- Survival >30y unusual
DUCHENNE’S
What are some investigations for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- Clinical exam = Gower’s sign
- Creatinine kinase markedly raised
- Genetic testing to confirm
DUCHENNE’S
What is the medical management of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- Steroids (prednisolone) appear best treatment as improves QOL, longer life expectancy + decreased progression of heart problems
- Manage congestive HF + arrhythmias with beta blocker, ACEi.
DUCHENNE’S
What is the supportive therapy for Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
- OT = aids + adaptations to help live with condition
- Physio = prevent contractures, scoliosis correction
- NIV for resp failure, gene therapy
DUCHENNE’S
What is another type of muscular dystrophy very similar to Duchenne’s?
How does it differ?
- Becker’s = some functional dystrophin produced
- Features similar but clinically progresses slower, average age of onset 11y with inability to walk from 20s
KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
What is Klinefelter syndrome?
- When a male has an additional X chromosome, making 47XXY
- Rarely even more X chromosomes like 48XXXY (more severe)
- Chief genetic cause of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism
KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Klinefelter syndrome?
- Often appear normal until puberty
- Taller height + wider hips
- Delayed puberty (lack of pubic hair, poor beard growth)
- Gynaecomastia, small testicles/penis, infertility
- Weaker muscles, shyness, subtle learning difficulties (esp. speech + language)
KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
What are some complications of Klinefelter syndrome?
- Increased risk of breast cancer compared to other males
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes
- Anxiety + depression
KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
What is the medical management of Klinefelter syndrome?
- Monthly testosterone injections to promote sexual characteristics
- Advanced IVF techniques for infertility
- Breast reduction surgery for cosmesis
KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
What is the MDT management for Klinefelter syndrome?
- SALT
- OT for day-day tasks
- Physio to strengthen muscles + joints
- Educational support if learning difficulties
PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME
What is Prader-Willi syndrome?
- Genetic imprinting disorder due to deletion of paternal chromosome 15 or maternal uniparental disomy
PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Prader-Willi syndrome?
- Constant, insatiable hunger > hyperphagia + obesity
- Initially failure to thrive due to hypotonia
- Small genitalia, hypogonadism + infertility
- Narrow forehead, almond eyes, strabismus
- LDs, MH issues
PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME
What causes the constant, insatiable hunger in Prader-Willi?
How can this be managed?
- Marked elevated levels of ghrelin (hormone associated with hunger)
- Dietician = careful limitation of access to food to control weight (may have to lock food cupboards or fridge)
PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME
What is the management of Prader-Willi syndrome?
- GH to improve muscle development + body composition
- MDT = education support, social workers, psychologists/CAMHS, physio + OT
ANGELMAN’S SYNDROME
What is Angelman’s syndrome?
What is it caused by?
- Genetic imprinting disorder due to deletion of maternal chromosome 15 or paternal uniparental disomy
- Loss of function of maternal UBE3A gene
ANGELMAN’S SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Angelman’s syndrome?
- “Happy puppet” = unprovoked laughing, clapping, hand flapping, ADHD
- Fascination with water
- Epilepsy, ataxia, broad based gait
- Severe LD, delayed development
- Widely spaced teeth, microcephaly
ANGELMAN’S SYNDROME
What is the management of Angelman’s syndrome?
- Chromosomal analysis with FISH to detect deletions
- MDT approach = parental education, CAMHS, psychology, physio, SALT, OT
NOONAN’S SYNDROME
What is Noonan’s syndrome?
- Autosomal dominant condition with defect on chromosome 12, normal karyotype
NOONAN’S SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of Noonan’s syndrome?
- Short stature, webbed neck, widely spaced nipples (Male Turner’s)
- Pectus excavatum, low set ears
- Hypertelorism (wide space between eyes)
- Downward sloping eyes with ptosis
- Curly/woolly hair
NOONAN’S SYNDROME
What are some complications of Noonan’s syndrome?
- CHD = pulmonary valve stenosis
- Cryptorchidism which can lead to infertility (fertility in women normal)
- LDs, bleeding disorders (XI deficient)
NOONAN’S SYNDROME
What is the management of Noonan’s syndrome?
- MDT support
- Main complication CHD so may need surgical correction
WILLIAM’S SYNDROME
What is William’s syndrome?
- Random deletion of genetic material on one copy of chromosome 7 resulting in only single copy of genes from other chromosome 7
WILLIAM’S SYNDROME
What is the clinical presentation of William’s syndrome?
- Very friendly + sociable
- Starburst eyes (star-pattern on iris)
- Wide mouth, big smile + widely spaced teeth
- Broad forehead, short nose + small chin
- Mild LD, short stature
WILLIAM’S SYNDROME
What are some complications of William’s syndrome?
- Supravalvular aortic stenosis
- ADHD
- HTN + hypercalcaemia
WILLIAM’S SYNDROME
What is the management of William’s syndrome?
- MDT approach
- ECHO + BP monitoring for complications
- Low Ca2+ diet
- FISH to confirm Dx
CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM
What is congenital hypothyroidism?
- Affects 1 in 3000 births + causes severe neurological dysfunction which leads to severe learning difficulties later in life
CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM
What is the most common cause of congenital hypothyroidism…
i) worldwide?
ii) UK?
iii) consanguineous families?
i) Iodine deficiency
ii) Maldescent of the thyroid or an absent thyroid gland (athyrosis)
– Remains as a lingual mass or unilobular small gland
iii) Dyshormonogenesis (inborn error of thyroid hormone synthesis)
– Goitre due to TSH stimulation
CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM
What is the clinical presentation of congenital hypothyroidism?
- Prolonged neonatal jaundice
- Delayed mental + physical milestones
- Puffy face, macroglossia + hypotonia
- Failure to thrive + feeding problems
- Coarse facies + hoarse cry
CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM
What are some investigations for congenital hypothyroidism?
- Should be picked up on Guthrie neonatal bloodspot test
- TFTs = TSH high, may have USS neck or thyroid isotope scan
CONGEN HYPOTHYROIDISM
What is the management of congenital hypothyroidism?
What has this helped prevent?
How can it be monitored?
- Lifelong PO thyroxine 30m before breakfast
- Titrate dose to maintain normal growth, start at age 2–3w
- Severe neuro disability (spasticity, gait issues, dysarthria)
- Normal TSH levels is most important at indicating long-term well controlled thyroid disease
JUVENILE HYPOTHYROIDISM
What is associated with an increased risk of juvenile hypothyroidism?
- Increased risk with Down or Turner syndrome