Article

Behavioral features of CHARGE syndrome (Hall-Hittner syndrome) comparison with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Williams syndrome.

Department of Pediatrics, Medical Genetics Birth Defects Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A (impact factor: 2.39). 04/2005; 133A(3):240-7. DOI:10.1002/ajmg.a.30543 pp.240-7
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT CHARGE syndrome, or Hall-Hitner syndrome (HHS), has been delineated as a common syndrome that includes coloboma, choanal atresia, cranial nerve dysfunction (particularly asymmetric facial palsy and neurogenic swallowing problems), characteristic ear abnormalities, deafness with hypoplasia of the cochlea and semicircular canals, genital hypoplasia, and variable heart defects, orofacial clefting, tracheo-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, thymic/parathyroid hypoplasia, spine anomalies, short broad neck with sloping shoulders, and characteristic facial features. We conducted behavioral and personality assessments in 14 boys with HHS syndrome aged 6-21 years, and compared their characteristics with similar data from 20 age-matched boys with Down syndrome (DS), 17 boys with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), and 16 boys with Williams syndrome (WS). We used the Reiss Profile of Fundamental Goals and Motivation Sensitivities, the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). All 14 boys with HHS were legally deaf, and 10 of the 14 were also legally blind. In comparison these other syndromes, boys with HHS had behavior that resembled autistic spectrum disorder. They were socially withdrawn, lacked interest in social contact, and manifested reduced seeking of attention from others, with hyperactivity and a need to maintain order. Though the boys with HHS showed decreased social interaction, they were not as socially impaired as in classic autism. Their language was delayed due to dual sensory impairment, cranial nerve deficits, and chronic medical problems, but their language style was not abnormal (no echolalia or jargon, no scripted phrases, and no pronoun reversal). Boys with HSS appeared frustrated, but they were not aggressive, or at risk for delinquency, manifesting few stereotypic behaviors or unusual preoccupations. They did not have a restricted repertoire of activities and interests. Their behavioral features appeared to be due to dual sensory impairment affecting hearing and vision, rather than to primary autistic spectrum disorder, but successful remediation requires similar educational interventions, which are discussed herein.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
17 Views
  • Source
    Article: CHARGE syndrome.
    Kim D Blake, Chitra Prasad
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: CHARGE syndrome was initially defined as a non-random association of anomalies (Coloboma, Heart defect, Atresia choanae, Retarded growth and development, Genital hypoplasia, Ear anomalies/deafness). In 1998, an expert group defined the major (the classical 4C's: Choanal atresia, Coloboma, Characteristic ears and Cranial nerve anomalies) and minor criteria of CHARGE syndrome. Individuals with all four major characteristics or three major and three minor characteristics are highly likely to have CHARGE syndrome. However, there have been individuals genetically identified with CHARGE syndrome without the classical choanal atresia and coloboma. The reported incidence of CHARGE syndrome ranges from 0.1-1.2/10,000 and depends on professional recognition. Coloboma mainly affects the retina. Major and minor congenital heart defects (the commonest cyanotic heart defect is tetralogy of Fallot) occur in 75-80% of patients. Choanal atresia may be membranous or bony; bilateral or unilateral. Mental retardation is variable with intelligence quotients (IQ) ranging from normal to profound retardation. Under-development of the external genitalia is a common finding in males but it is less apparent in females. Ear abnormalities include a classical finding of unusually shaped ears and hearing loss (conductive and/or nerve deafness that ranges from mild to severe deafness). Multiple cranial nerve dysfunctions are common. A behavioral phenotype for CHARGE syndrome is emerging. Mutations in the CHD7 gene (member of the chromodomain helicase DNA protein family) are detected in over 75% of patients with CHARGE syndrome. Children with CHARGE syndrome require intensive medical management as well as numerous surgical interventions. They also need multidisciplinary follow up. Some of the hidden issues of CHARGE syndrome are often forgotten, one being the feeding adaptation of these children, which needs an early aggressive approach from a feeding team. As the child develops, challenging behaviors become more common and require adaptation of educational and therapeutic services, including behavioral and pharmacological interventions.
    Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 02/2006; 1:34. · 5.83 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Multiple mutations in mouse Chd7 provide models for CHARGE syndrome.
    Erika A Bosman, Andrew C Penn, John C Ambrose, Ross Kettleborough, Derek L Stemple, Karen P Steel
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Mouse ENU mutagenesis programmes have yielded a series of independent mutations on proximal chromosome 4 leading to dominant head-bobbing and circling behaviour due to truncations of the lateral semicircular canal of the inner ear. Here, we report the identification of mutations in the Chd7 gene in nine of these mutant alleles including six nonsense and three splice site mutations. The human CHD7 gene is known to be involved in CHARGE syndrome, which also shows inner ear malformations and a variety of other features with varying penetrance and appears to be due to frequent de novo mutation. We found widespread expression of Chd7 in early development of the mouse in organs affected in CHARGE syndrome including eye, olfactory epithelium, inner ear and vascular system. Closer inspection of heterozygous mutant mice revealed a range of defects with reduced penetrance, such as cleft palate, choanal atresia, septal defects of the heart, haemorrhages, prenatal death, vulva and clitoral defects and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Many of these defects mimic the features of CHARGE syndrome. There were no obvious features of the gene that might make it more mutable than other genes. We conclude that the large number of mouse mutants and human de novo mutations may be due to the combination of the Chd7 gene being a large target and the fact that many heterozygous carriers of the mutations are viable individuals with a readily detectable phenotype.
    Human Molecular Genetics 12/2005; 14(22):3463-76. · 7.64 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

asymmetric facial palsy
 
behavioral features
 
characteristic facial features
 
chronic medical problems
 
cranial nerve deficits
 
dual sensory impairment
 
includes coloboma
 
language style
 
neurogenic swallowing problems
 
primary autistic spectrum disorder
 
Reiss Profile
 
renal anomalies
 
resembled autistic spectrum disorder
 
restricted repertoire
 
scripted phrases
 
short broad neck
 
similar data
 
social contact
 
spine anomalies
 
stereotypic behaviors