SHORT Syndrome : An End to the Diagnostic Odyssey

SHORT Syndrome is a rare genetic condition with less than 50 cases reported worldwide. Its name is an acronym, represented by Short stature, Hyperextensibility of joints, Ocular depression, Rieger anomaly and Teething delay. Other associated features include intrauterine growth restriction, lipodystrophy, delayed bone age and progeroid appearance. Cognitive function is usually preserved. Our patient was a 7-year-old-boy, referred at 9 months old forsex chromosome mosaicism detected on his karyotype analysis. He was born term via normal vaginal delivery with a birth weight of 2.05 kg and good Apgar score. Antenatally, mother was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus not requiring insulin. From 7 months gestation, serial scans showed symmetrical intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Examination at birth revealed a baby small for age, with prominent ears and micrognathia. During his subsequent clinic visits, he manifested Russell-Silver-like phenotype; failure to thrive, broad forehead and triangular facies, although additional features of wrinkled skin over his hands and feet, deep set eyes, groove over his chin and large ears were also seen. Genetic studies for Russell-Silver Syndrome (RSS) and chromosomal microarray testing which was done subsequently, were both normal. His genetic condition remained elusive for many years. A clinical diagnosis of SHORT Syndrome was finally considered. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing method was used to analyse the targeted gene at Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur. A heterozygous mutation was detected at c.1945C>T in exon 15 of PIK3R1 gene; which impairs cellular growth and proliferation. This case report discusses the differential diagnosis of a dysmorphic child with short stature with RSS -like phenotype.

Transient Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus in SHORT Syndrome: A Case Report

SHORT syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple congenital defects and is historically defined by its acronym: short stature, hyperextensibility of joints and/or inguinal hernia, ocular depression, Rieger anomaly, and teething delay. Herein, we report a male infant with SHORT syndrome who presented with transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) with insulin resistance. The proband was born at 38 weeks of gestation but displayed facial dysmorphic features. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was detected on a prenatal ultrasonography test. His birth weight was 1.8 kg (<3rd percentile), length 44 cm (<3rd percentile), and head circumference 31 cm (<3rd percentile). The patient's blood glucose level started to increase at 5 days of age (218–263 mg/dl) and remained high at 20 days of age (205–260 mg/dl). He was treated with subcutaneous insulin and the blood glucose level gradually stabilized. Blood glucose level was stabilized over time without insulin treatment at 6 weeks of age. Clinical exome sequencing showed a heterozygous pathogenic variant, NM_181523.3:c.1945C>T (p.Arg649Trp) in exon 15 of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1) known as the causative gene for SHORT syndrome. Examination of the patient at 10 months of age revealed no hyperglycemic episode and glycated hemoglobin level was 5.2%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of TNDM in SHORT syndrome due to a pathogenic variant of PIK3R1. We believe that our case can aid in expanding the phenotypes of SHORT syndrome.

A novel PIK3R1 mutation of SHORT syndrome in a Chinese female with diffuse thyroid disease: a case report and review of literature

Background SHORT syndrome is a rare genetic disease named with the acronyms of short stature, hyper-extensibility of joints, ocular depression, Rieger anomaly and teething delay. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner confirmed by the identification of heterozygous mutations in PIK3R1. This study hereby presents a 15-year-old female with intrauterine growth restriction, short stature, teething delay, characteristic facial gestalts who was identified a novel de novo nonsense mutation in PIK3R1. Case presentation The proband was admitted to our department due to irregular menstrual cycle and hirsutism with short stature, who had a history of intrauterine growth restriction and presented with short stature, teething delay, characteristic facial gestalts, hirsutism, and thyroid disease. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing revealed c.1960C > T, a novel de novo nonsense mutation, leading to the termination of protein translation (p. Gln654*). Conclusions This is the first case report of SHORT syndrome complicated with thyroid disease in China, identifying a novel de novo heterozygous nonsense mutation in PIK3R1 gene (p. Gln654*). The phenotypes are mildly different from other cases previously described in the literature, in which our patient presents with lipoatrophy, facial feature, and first reported thyroid disease. Thyroid disease may be a new clinical symptom of patients with SHORT syndrome.