Patau syndrome with long survival in a case of unusual mosaic trisomy 13

Giuseppina Fogu a,*, Emanuela Maserati b, Francesca Cambosu a, Maria Antonietta Moro a, Fausto Poddie a, Giovanna Soro a, Pasquale Bandiera c, Gigliola Serra d, Gianni Tusacciu d, Giuseppina Sanna d, Vittorio Mazzarello c, Andrea Montella c
a Clinical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, viale San Pietro,
43/C, 07100 Sassari, Italy
b Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
c Anatomy and Histology Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Italy
d Institute of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Sassari, Italy
 
Received 21 January 2008; accepted 27 March 2008
Available online 9 April 2008
 
 
Abstract / Resumo
We report a 12-year-old patient with Patau syndrome, in whom two cell lines were present from birth, one with total trisomy 13 due to isochromosome (13q), and one with partial trisomy 13. A cytogenetic re-evaluation at 9 years of age brought to light in skin fibroblasts a third cell line, partially monosomic for chromosome 13. The derivatives (13) present in the three cell lines were characterized through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments with suitable probes; the results suggested a sequence of rearrangements which beginning from an isochromosome (13q) could have led to the other two derivatives. We report the clinical data at birth and at the age of 12; at this age pigmentary lesions with phylloid pattern were noted. Cytogenetic findings of the chromosomal analyses on different tissues, including skin fibroblasts from differently pigmented areas, are also reported. 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
 
Keywords: Patau syndrome; Trisomy 13; Mosaicism; FISH; Phylloid hypomelanosis
 

Patau syndrome with a long survival: a case report

By: A.C. Duarte, A.I.C. Menezes, E.S. Devens, J.M. Roth, G.L. Garcias and M.G. Martino-Roth
Genetics and Molecular Research 3 (2): 288-292 (2004)
 
ABSTRACT
Trisomy 13 is a clinically severe entity; 85% of the patients do not survive beyond one year, and most children die before completing six months of age. We report a female child, 28 months old, white, the fourth child of a non-consanguineous couple, who presented trisomy 13. The child was born at term, from a vaginal delivery, weighing 2600 g. At birth, she was cyanotic, icteric, spastic, and cried weakly. The initial clinical examination detected polydactyly in the left hand, congenital clubfoot and convex soles, ocular hypertelorism, a low nasal bridge, numerous hemangiomas distributed throughout the body, cardiomegaly, and perimembranous inter-ventricular communication. There was no cleft lip or palate. On physical examination at 18 months old, the child weighed 6,900 g, had a cephalic perimeter of 41 cm, a thoracic perimeter of 43 cm and was 76 cm tall. At 28 months, she weighed 10,760 g and was 88.5 cm tall. Neuropsychomotor development retardation was evident from birth and, according to the psychologist and the social assistant of APAE (Handicapped Parents and Friends Association) in Canguçu, Rio Grande do Sul, there was a noticeable improvement after physiotherapy and recreational sessions.