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LETTER
Jeune syndrome
Jeune syndrome was first described as
familial asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy in
a pair of siblings with severely narrow
thoracic cage by Jeune et al in 1955.
1
It is a
rare genetic disorder, with a poor survival
rate beyond the neonatal period,
2
known to
be genetically heterogeneous and charac-
terised by short limbs, underdeveloped iliac
wings and a narrow rigid thoracic cage,
which often results in asphyxiation.
1
Survival has been reported to the fourth
decade of life,
3
with no race or sex predilec-
tion. Incidence in the USA is estimated at 1
per 100 000–130 000 live births. One postu-
lated gene locus for this autosomal recessive
disorder is chromosome 15q13.
4
Early pre-
natal diagnosis is not possible; however,
detailed skeletal survey scanning after
14 weeks gestation can detect defining
deformities.
The more common signs of Jeune syn-
drome include short horizontal ribs, irregular
costochondral junction, small thoracic cage,
short stature, nail dysplasia, asplenia, early
fusion between epiphyses and metaphyses,
mental retardation, hydrocephalus and ret-
inal degeneration. Respiratory symptoms
vary widely from respiratory failure and
infantile death to latent phenotype without
respiratory symptoms. Polyuria, polydipsia
and hypertension may be present during the
second or third year of life.
Alveolar hypoventilation is caused by
impaired chest expansion as a result of short
horizontally placed ribs. Approximately 60–
70% of homozygous carriers die from
respiratory failure in early infancy and early
childhood. Chronic renal failure may ensue
in survivors during infancy, early adoles-
cence or second decade of life. Few patients
reach adolescence or adulthood.
The treatment of Jeune syndrome can be
divided into two categories: standard thera-
pies and investigational therapies.
Standard therapies are symptomatic and
supportive. Past procedures attempted to
improve respiration by expanding the con-
strictive thorax by releasing the ribs at the
costochondral junction without clear bene-
fit. Some success has been seen by expand-
ing the thorax through a longitudinal
division of the sternum held open with bone
graft, acrylic implants, metal plates or donor
bone grafts. Posterolateral expansion of the
rib cages has also been accomplished with
osteotomies and plate fixation. Renal dys-
function is managed with dialysis or trans-
plantation. Liver disease is treated with
phenobarbital or ursodeoxycholic acid.
Asphyxia requires immediate respiratory
support, with cardiopulmonary resuscita-
tion, endotracheal intubation and supple-
mental oxygen as required.
Investigational therapies on the other
hand are limited, with Christus Santa Rosa
Children’s Hospital, San Antonio, Texas,
USA being one of the leading centres. Here
the ‘‘Titanium Rib Project’’ oversees the
implantation of expandable prosthetic ribs
in such children.
M B O’Connor,
1
D P Gallagher,
1
E Mulloy
2
1
Department of Medicine, Mid-Western Regional Hospital,
Limerick, Ireland;
2
Department of Respiratory Medicine, St
Johns Hospital, Limerick, Ireland
Competing interests: None.
Postgrad Med J 2008;84:559.
doi:10.1136/pgmj.2007.066159
REFERENCES
1. Jeune M, Beraud C, Carron R. Asphyxiating thoracic
dystrophy with familial characteristics. Arch Fr Pediatr
1955;12:886–91.
2. Sankar VH, Phadke SR. Asphyxiating thoracic
dystrophy with facial dysmorphism. Indian J Pediatr
2006;73:1115–18.
3. Freidman JM, Kaplan HG, Hall JG. The Jeune
syndrome in an adult. Am J Med 1975;59:857.
4. Morgan NV, Bachelli C, Gissen P, et al. A locus for
asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy (ATD) maps to ch.15q
13. J Med Genet 2003;40:431–5.
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PostScript
Postgrad Med J 2008 Vol 84 No 996 559
group.bmj.com on March 19, 2013 - Published by pmj.bmj.comDownloaded from
doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2007.066159
2008 84: 559Postgrad Med J
M B O'Connor, D P Gallagher and E Mulloy
Jeune syndrome
http://pmj.bmj.com/content/84/996/559.full.html
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