1. A spectrum of phenotypical expression OF Neu-Laxova syndrome: Three case reports and a review of the literature
- Author
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Haynes B. Robinson, Tami Stuart, Bahig M. Shehata, Enid Gilbert-Barness, Charlotte K. Steelman, and Wendy Coto-Puckett
- Subjects
Central Nervous System ,Microcephaly ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Consanguinity ,Disease ,Nervous System Malformations ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,Craniofacial Abnormalities ,Rare Diseases ,Ectodermal Dysplasia ,Pregnancy ,medicine ,Neu-Laxova syndrome ,Humans ,Abnormalities, Multiple ,Craniofacial ,Ultrasonography ,Ichthyosis ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Syndrome ,Stillbirth ,medicine.disease ,Phenotype ,Dysplasia ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Etiology ,Female ,business - Abstract
Neu-Laxova syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe intra-uterine growth restriction, extreme microcephaly, marked edema with skin restriction, ichthyosis, craniofacial anomalies, limb deformities, and a spectrum of central nervous system malformations. Less than 70 cases have been described since the first report in 1971. To this day the etiology and genetic basis remains unknown. Consanguinity has been reported. Some authors have postulated the syndrome to be a form of neuro-ectodermal dysplasia, while others suggest that it is a malformation syndrome secondary to severe skin restriction. Although the outcome of this syndrome is lethal, a single case of longer survival (6 months) has been reported. The majority of cases are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Thus, it is clear that Neu-Laxova exhibits a spectrum of disease, with varying degrees of phenotypic expression. We are presenting three new cases of Neu-Laxova syndrome; two were stillbirths and one lived for eleven weeks. Our microscopic and post-mortem findings in these three cases display the vast spectrum of this rare syndrome.
- Published
- 2010