A case of Adams-Oliver Syndrome
V.Manikandasamy1,
Arumugasamy S.2
1Dr. V. Manikandasamy, Assistant
Professor, 2Dr. Shanmuga Arumugasamy,
Assistant professor, both authors are affiliated with Department of
Pediatrics, Velammal Medical College and Research Institute, Velammal
Village, Anuppanadi, Near Chinthamani Toll Gate, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
625009, India
Address for
Correspondence: Dr. V. Manikandasamy, Assistant Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Velammal medical college and research
institute, Velammal Village, Anuppanadi, Near Chinthamani Toll Gate,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625009, E-mail: bharathi4samy@gmail.com
Abstract
A late preterm, 2.3kg, Male child was born to P2L2 mother by Normal
Vaginal Delivery. Baby had a large scalp defect, acrania with
hypoplastic and absent digits. Acrania portion of the skull was covered
by a thick membrane. X-ray skullshowed absence of skull vault, X-ray of
extremities showed hypoplastic and absent digits. Neurosonogram was
normal. Echocardiography done showed moderate PDA with left to right
shunt. CT brain was normal. Child was diagnosed as a case of Adams
– Oliver syndrome. It is an autosomal dominant disorder
comprises aplasia cutis congenita with terminal transverse limb defects.
Key words:
Aplasia cutis congenita, Hypoplastic and absent digits
Manuscript received: 7th
September 2017, Reviewed:
16th September 2017
Author Corrected:
24th September 2017,
Accepted for Publication: 30th September 2017
Adams and Oliver described eight members of a family with this disorder
in 1945. More than 100 affected individuals have been
reported[1].Adams-Oliver syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder
with aplasia cutis congenita and terminal transverse limb defects[2].
We report a case of Adams Oliver syndrome with typical skin and limb
defects without any major internal organ anomalies.
Case
Report
A late preterm, 2.3kg, Male child was born to P2L2 mother by Normal
Vaginal delivery to non-consanguineously married parents. Baby cried
immediately after birth. Apgar was 5 and 8 at 1 min and 5 min
respectively. No adverse perinatal events occurred during birth. Elder
sibling was alive and healthy, had no scalp or limb defects. Both the
parents had no scalp or limb defects.
Cry and activity was good. Baby’s vitals were within normal
limits. Head circumference is 33cm. Baby had a large scalp defect,
acrania with hypoplastic and absent digits. Acrania portion of the
skull was covered by a thick membrane. Systemic examination findings
were within normal limits.
Baseline investigations were within normal limits. On radiological
examination skull showed absence of skull vault, and extremities showed
hypoplastic and absent digits. Neurosonogram showed absence of any
intracranial anomalies. CT brain taken showed normal intracranial
structures. Baby had moderate PDA with left to right shunt in
Echocardiography.
Discussion
In 1945, Forrest Adams and C. Peter Oliver from Minneapolis first
reported this condition. This condition is transmitted by Autosomal
dominant mode of transmission, with presence of vertex cranial defects
resembling aplasia cutis congenita and terminal limb malformations.
More than 100 affected individuals have been reported[3].
Figure-1:
Acrania portion of scalp
Figure-2:
Cutis
marmorata
Figure-3:
Hypoplastic digits in hand ;">
Figure-4: Hypoplastic digits in feet
Figure-5: X
ray hand showing absent phalanges
Figure 6 and 7:
CT brain showing normal intracranial structures
Mild growth deficiency (3rd to 10th percentile) is seen. Aplasia cutis
congenitais seen over posterior parietal region, with or without an
underlying bony defect. These skin defects of the scalp can typically
be found as solitary or multiple, round-oval hairless scars. Terminal
transverse limb defects, including those involving lower legs, feet,
hands, fingers, toes, or distal phalanges, short fingers and small toe
nails. Cardiac defects are seen in 20% of affected individuals,
including ASD, VSD, Coarctation of Aorta, obstructive lesions of the
left heart, hypoplastic left and right ventricles, DORV, and DOLV.
Cutis marmorata telangiectasia seen in 20% of cases.
An autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with marked variability in
expression and lack of penetrance is seen in majority of cases.
Gain-of-function mutations of ARHGAP31, a Cdc42/Rac1 GTPase regulator
are responsible for the defects.
Autosomal recessive inheritance has been suggested in a few families.
Recessive mutations in the dedicator of cytokinesis 6 (DOCK6) gene have
been identified in some cases. Far more likely to have a severe
phenotype with neurologic abnormalities and intellectual disability [1].
The pathophysiologic mechanism of these defects remains unclear, but
several mechanisms have been proposed, including predisposition to
amniotic rupture sequence, other forms of extrinsic trauma or
compression, and vascular compromise. An intrinsic predisposition to
interference with normal tissue development seems a likely etiology.
The association of cutis marmorata and the dilated and or tortuous
scalp veins may be additional indicators pointing to an underlying
predisposition to vascular compromise in “watershed areas
such as the cranial vertex and limbs[2].
The male-to-female ratio of the affected cases is about 2:3 (in earlier
reports of sporadic cases = m:f = 5:13; in earlier reports of familial
cases = 16:26; in the present cases = 7:3; all together = 28:42).
Genetic counseling regarding the inheritance of this syndrome should be
given to all parents. In genetic counseling autosomal dominant
inheritance with great variability in expression of the syndrome of
congenital scalp defect and distal reduction defects of the limbs
should be stressed. However, genetic counseling of families with a
sporadic manifestation of the syndrome may be difficult. Anunaffected
parent may represent a nonpenetrant individual. Thus, the unaffected
parents of an affected child always have some risk of having another
affected child. Ultrasonic examination might be indicated in all
potential affected pregnancies.
Larger scalp defects with underlying defects of bone, where the
superior sagittal sinus or dura are exposed there is an increased risk
of hemorrhage or meningitis. Early surgical intervention with grafting
is indicated. Cases in which the sagittal sinus or dura is not exposed,
healing without need for grafting almost always occurs.
Several syndromes with congenital skinand limb defects have to be
differentiated from the syndrome of scalp defect with perodactyly.
Distal deficiencies occur in the aglossia-adactylia anomaly (Hanhart
syndrome), Poland complex, and as a part of the limb defects in focal
dermal hypoplasia. A characteristic pattern of congenital scalp defects
can be seen in the syndrome of scalp defects and postaxial polydactyly,
the syndrome of scalp defects and split-hand defect, trisomy 13, and
Johanson-Blizzard syndrome. The skindefects of the amniotic band
sequence are rarely found as localized defects on the scalp. In
epidermolysisbullosadystrophica type Bart the defects are typically on
the lower legs, and in focal dermal hypoplasia irregular atrophic areas
are observed [4].
Conclusion
Adams Oliver syndrome is a rare disorder that can be associated with
lethal major organ anomalies. Prognosis is good in majority of cases,
especially those without any major organ anomalies. We report a case of
AOS, most likely to be sporadic. The patient presented with isolated
aplasia cutis congenital and terminal transverse limb defects.
Funding:
Nil, Conflict of
interest: None initiated.
Permission from IRB:
Yes
References
1. Jones KL, Jones MC, Campo MD. Smith’s recognizable
patterns of human malformations. Philadelphia: Elsivier Saunders; 2013.
2. Whitley CB, Gorlin RJ. Adams- Oliver syndrome revisited. Am J Med
Genet. 1991 Sep 1;40(3):319-26. [PubMed]
3. Bamforth JS, Kaurah P, Byrne J, Ferreira P. Adams Oliver Syndrome: A
family with variability in clinical expression. American Journal of
Medical genetics 1994 Feb 15; 49(4): 393-96.
4. Kuster W, Lenz W, Kaariainen H, Majewski F. Congenital Scalp Defects
With Distal Limb Anomalies (Adams-Oliver Syndrome): Report of Ten Cases
and Review of the Literature. Americal Journal of Medical Genetics
1988; 31: 99-115.
How to cite this article?
V. Manikandasamy, Arumugasamy S. A case of Adams- Oliver Syndrome. J
PediatrRes. 2017;4(09):580-583.doi:10. 17511/ijpr.2017.09.07.