Microcephaly lymphoedema chorioretinal dysplasia

Microcephaly lymphoedema chorioretinal dysplasia (MLCRD) is a genetic condition associated with:

• Small head (Microcephaly)
• Puffy feet (Lymphoedema)
• Eye problems (Chorio-retinal dysplasia ie changes in the retina)

In 1992, Feingold and Bartoshesky described two unrelated children with microcephaly, lymphoedema and chorioretinal dysplasia (MIM 152950) as a distinct entity. Since then there have been further reports of children with these three features (Angle et al 1994, Fryns et al 1995, Limwongse et al 1999, Casteels et al 2001)

Children have also been seen with two of the above features:

• Microcephaly and lymphoedema
• Microcephaly and chorioretinal dysplasia with or without mental retardation

The former (microcephaly and lymphoedema) has been described as an autosomal dominant (MIM 156590) or X-linked trait, while the latter (microcephaly and chorioretinal dysplasia) has been described as autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive (MIM 251270 or Mirhosseini-Holmes-Watson syndrome) or X-linked trait.

The distinct facial feature include upslanting palpebral fissures, a broad nose with rounded tip, long philtrum with a thin upper lip, pointed chin and prominent ears (Vasudevan 2005)

References

• 1. Feingold M, Bartoshesky L (1992) Microcephaly, lymphoedema, and chorioretinal dysplasia: a distinct syndrome? Am J Med Genet; 43:1030-1031.
• 2. Angle B, Holgado S, Burton BK (1994) Microcephaly, lymphoedema, and chorioretinal dysplasia: report of two additional cases. Am J Med Genet; 53:99-101
• 3. Fryns JP, Smeets E, Van den Berghe H. (1995) On the nosology of the "primary true microcephaly, chorioretinal dysplasia, lymphoedema" association. Clin Genet ;48:131-133
• 4.Limwongse C, Wyszynski RE, Dickerman LH, Robin NH (1999) Microcephaly-lymphoedema-chorioretinal dysplasia: a unique genetic syndrome with variable expression and possible characteristic facial appearance. Am J Med Genet; 86:215-218.
• 5. Casteels I, Devriendt K, Van Cleynenbreugel H, Demaerel P, De Tavernier F, Fryns JP (2001). Autosomal dominant microcephaly—lymphoedema-chorioretinal dysplasia syndrome. Br J Ophthalmol. ;85(4):499-500
• 6.Crowe CA, Dickerman LH (1986). A genetic association between microcephaly and lymphoedema. Am J Med Genet; 24:131-135.
• 7.Vasudevan, Pradeep C, Garcia-Minaur, Sixto, Botella, Maria Pilar, Perez-Aytes, Antonio, Shannon, Nora L, Quarrell Oliver W. J (2005) Microcephaly-lymphoedema-chorioretinal dysplasia: three cases to delineate the facial phenotype and review of the literature. Clinical Dysmorphology:

July 2005 - Volume 14 - Issue 3 - pp 109–116