Fraser Syndrome With Megalencephaly: A Rare Association

An outborn term neonate was referred at 12 h of life with multiple congenital anomalies. A baby was born out of consanguineous marriage to a mother with 2 previous abortions. Clinical examination showed features such as bilateral cryptophthalmos, syndactyly involving all limbs, and clitoromegaly suggestive of Fraser syndrome. Ultrasound of the abdomen showed unilateral renal hypoplasia. Echocardiography showed ostium secundum atrial septal defect, small ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed megalencephaly with polygyria. Further evaluation and surgical treatment of cryptophthalmos were advised but could not be done because of socioeconomic constraint, and the neonate was discharged and lost to follow-up. The occurrence of cerebral malformations in Fraser syndrome is highly variable and not very well described in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, association of megalencephaly with this syndrome is being reported for the first time. We also intend to educate the physicians about the antenatal clues associated with this rare syndrome, which could promote antenatal diagnosis and thereby modify the outcome.

Orpha disease – FRASER syndrome (ORPHA:2052) in children: phenotype and genotype characteristics

Fraser syndrome (OMIM # 219000; ORPHA: 2052; ICD-10: Q87.0) is a rare, disease with an autosomal recessive type of inheritance is characterized by abnormalities in the development of the eyes, kidneys, larynx, ears, and bone systems (cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, abnormalities of the kidneys, urogenital tract, and respiratory system). The article presents current literature data on the phenotypic and genotypic features of Fraser syndrome, the management of patients with new opportunities for genetic diagnosis and treatment. The syndrome, described by D. Fraser in 1962, is caused by mutations in the FRAS1, FREM2, GRIP genes. The diagnosis of the Fraser syndrome phenotype is established in the presence of the main criteria (cryptophthalmos, syndactyly, abnormalities of the urinary and respiratory system, genitals, family history indicating a closely related marriage) and secondary (congenital malformations of the nose and ears, skull ossification defects, anorectal abnormalities, umbilical hernia, etc.). Molecular genetic testing proves a rare disease, requires genetic counseling. The management of patients is carried out jointly by an ophthalmologist, an otolaryngologist, an audiologist, a nephrologist, a urologist, a maxillofacial surgeon and other specialists.

Prenatal diagnosis of Fraser syndrome caused by novel variants of FREM2

Fraser syndrome (FS) involves multiple malformations and has a 25% recurrence risk among siblings. However, these malformations are difficult to detect prenatally, hampering prenatal diagnosis. Here, we describe a fetus with FS diagnosed using ultrasonography. Ultrasonography revealed congenital high airway obstruction syndrome and renal agenesis. Syndactyly of both hands and cryptophthalmos were noted postnatally, and the diagnosis was confirmed by genetic analysis, which showed novel compound heterozygous variants of FREM2.