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Children with the genetic defect 22q11.2 deletion may be at higher risk for growth hormone deficiency. This birth defect may cause many symptoms, including heart abnormalities, defects of the palate, and altered facial appearance. Four patients with 22q11.2 deletion and short stature were evaluated for inadequate growth and found to have growth hormone deficiency. Replacement growth hormone therapy may increase the rate of growth and allow these children to attain a greater final height., The list of findings associated with the 22q11.2 deletion is quite long and varies from patient to patient. The hallmark features include: conotruncal cardiac anomalies, palatal defects, thymic aplasia or hypoplasia, T cell abnormalities, mild facial dysmorphia, and learning disabilities. The 22q11.2 deletion has been seen in associAtion with the DiGeorge sequence, velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, isolated conotruncal cardiac anomalies, and some cases of autosomal dominant Opitz G/BBB syndrome. Short stature has been seen in one to two thirds of children reported in the literature with a diagnosis of VCFS, but growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has not been described in conjunction with this diagnosis. We present 4 patients with a 22q11.2 deletion and short stature who were found to have abnormalities in the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor I axis. All had growth factors less than -2 SD for age and failed provocative growth hormone testing. Two patients were found to have abnormal pituitary anatomy. In our population, the incidence of GHD in 4 of 95 children with 22q11 deletion is significantly greater than the estimated incidence of GHD in the general population. Children with a 22q11.2 deletion appear to be at a greater risk for pituitary abnormalities. Therefore, those children with the 22q11.2 deletion and short stature or poor growth should be evaluated for GHD, as replacement growth hormone therapy may improve their growth velocity and final height prediction. Pediatrics 1998;101:929-932; velocardiofacial syndrome, DiGeorge sequence, 22q11.2 deletion, growth hormone, deficiency, short stature., ABBREVIATIONS. DGS, DiGeorge sequence; VCFS, velocardiofacial syndrome; CTAF, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome; GHD, growth hormone deficiency; SDS, standard deviation score; IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor I; IGFBP-3, insulin-like growth factor binding [...]

The package inserts of live viral vaccines include immunodeficiency as a contraindication. Nevertheless, patients with mild forms of immunodeficiency may benefit from vaccination. No published guidelines exist for the administration of these vaccines specifically to patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. This syndrome is also sometimes called DiGeorge syndrome and is associated with thymic hypoplasia and diminished T-cell numbers and has a wide spectrum of phenotypic features that include cardiac anomalies, dysmorphic facial features, and hypocalcemia. Patients generally exhibit a mild to moderate decrement in T-cell numbers with preservation of T-cell function. The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of side effects after live viral vaccine administration in a population with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The high frequency of this syndrome in the population (1:3000 children) mandates a greater understanding of the risks and benefits related to live viral vaccine administration. A retrospective analysis of vaccine adverse events was performed. The data acquisition form evaluated the frequency of live vaccine administration and the consequences of both vaccination and withholding the vaccine. Flow cytometric enumeration of T cells was performed as part of an immunologic evaluation. Thirty-two of 59 responders were vaccinated with the varicella vaccine. Only 9% of patients reported adverse events. However, 63% of unvaccinated children developed chickenpox. Comparison of patients who tolerated the vaccine with those who reported adverse events showed no statistically significant differences in current age (7 vs 5.7 years), age at vaccination (3 vs 2.5 years), or T-cell subset counts: CD3 (1951 vs 2083 cells/ [micro]L), CD4 (1283 vs 1463 cells/[micro]L), and CD8 (530 vs 502 cells/[micro]L). Fifty-two of 59 responders were vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Twelve (23%) of 52 reported mild side effects, including fever, rash, and constitutional symptoms. No severe adverse reactions were reported. No patient reported natural disease with measles, mumps, or rubella. There were no statistically significant differences between the T-cell counts in the vaccinated group reporting side effects versus the vaccinated group without side effects (mean CD3 counts: 1928 vs 1736 cells/[micro]L; CD4 counts: 1250 vs 1127 cells/[micro]L; and CD8 counts: 528 vs 483 cells/[micro]L). In our study, patients with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome had a similar incidence of adverse effects with varicella and MMR vaccines compared with that reported in the general population. All side effects were mild. However, in patients who did not receive the varicella vaccine, an overwhelming 63% contracted the disease. Patients who were not vaccinated against MMR did not develop natural disease. The data suggest that this is a cohort of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome who have tolerated live viral vaccinations without evidence of significant side effects. A prospective study could address whether there are T-cell thresholds below which vaccination is unsafe; however, the information that we present suggests that vaccinating children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion with live viral vaccines does not carry a significantly higher risk of adverse reactions compared with the general population, provided that they have no evidence of severe immunocompromise.

Abstract. TWO fourth cousins with a strikingly similar pattern of malformation and who have an unbalanced translocation (46, XY, -17, +t (17p; 10q) are described. From an analysis of the phenotypes of these patients and others reported with 10q trisomy, we propose that the trisomy 10q 24-26 syndrome includes: growth and mental retardation, a characteristic facies (microcephaly, flat face with spacious forehead, small nose, depressed nasal bridge, arched wide-spaced eyebrows, blepharophimosis, microphthalmia, low-set ears, bow-shaped mouth with prominent upper lip, micrognathia), palate anomalies (high-arched cleft or agenesis), congenital heart disease, and anomalies of the hands and feet. Anomalies common to the cousins, but not described in other patients with trisomy 10q, are believed to be expressions of a partial monosomy of 17p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]