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A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing

Received: 24 May 2021     Accepted: 29 June 2021     Published: 31 August 2021
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Abstract

A 31-year-old gravida 1 para 0 was referred to our institution following a fetal anatomic survey demonstrating clubbed feet, flexed wrists, and skin edema. Ultrasound evaluation demonstrated these findings in addition to hemivertebrae, short long bones, contractures of the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles with limited movement at the shoulders and hips. Further, macrocephaly, microphthalmia, low set ears, micrognathia, hepatomegaly, and an omphalocele were noted. Following termination of the pregnancy, whole exome sequencing ultimately identified compound heterozygous mutations in the NEK9 gene. One mutation in our case, c.136G>T, has never been reported; the other, c.1432del, has been reported once. To date, NEK9 mutations have been documented in three families with all affected individuals diagnosed with arthrogryposis. Our patient underwent targeted gene variant testing in two subsequent pregnancies, confirming identification of one of the two familial NEK9 gene mutations each time. Both pregnancies culminated in term deliveries of healthy neonates. This case illustrates a diagnosis of an extremely rare single gene disorder in the pregnancy of a non-consanguineous German couple, providing further evidence toward arthrogryposis with other anomalies as a recessive disease associated with NEK9 gene mutations. Finally, this case demonstrates whole exome sequencing as a valuable adjunct tool for investigating etiology when multiple fetal anomalies are identified without diagnosis on more standard tests.

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17
Page(s) 128-131
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Arthrogryposis, Whole Exome Sequencing, NEK9

References
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[4] Filges I, Tercanli S, Hall JG. Fetal arthrogryposis: Challenges and perspectives for prenatal detection and management. In American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C: Seminars in Medical Genetics 2019 Sep (Vol. 181, No. 3, pp. 327-336). Hoboken, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
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[8] Noh GJ, Graham Jr JM. 2q23. 1 microdeletion of the MBD5 gene in a female with seizures, developmental delay and distinct dysmorphic features. European journal of medical genetics. 2012 May 1; 55 (5): 354-7.
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[12] Xu Z, Shen W, Pan A, Sun F, Zhang J, Gao P, Li L. Decreased Nek9 expression correlates with aggressive behaviour and predicts unfavourable prognosis in breast cancer. Pathology. 2020 Apr 1; 52 (3): 329-35.
[13] Casey JP, Brennan K, Scheidel N, McGettigan P, Lavin PT, Carter S, Ennis S, Dorkins H, Ghali N, Blacque OE, Mc Gee MM. Recessive NEK9 mutation causes a lethal skeletal dysplasia with evidence of cell cycle and ciliary defects. Human molecular genetics. 2016 May 1; 25 (9): 1824-35.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Audrey Rae Norby, Caitlin Madden Clifford, Deborah Rose Berman. (2021). A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 9(4), 128-131. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17

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    ACS Style

    Audrey Rae Norby; Caitlin Madden Clifford; Deborah Rose Berman. A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2021, 9(4), 128-131. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17

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    AMA Style

    Audrey Rae Norby, Caitlin Madden Clifford, Deborah Rose Berman. A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing. J Gynecol Obstet. 2021;9(4):128-131. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17,
      author = {Audrey Rae Norby and Caitlin Madden Clifford and Deborah Rose Berman},
      title = {A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing},
      journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {128-131},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20210904.17},
      abstract = {A 31-year-old gravida 1 para 0 was referred to our institution following a fetal anatomic survey demonstrating clubbed feet, flexed wrists, and skin edema. Ultrasound evaluation demonstrated these findings in addition to hemivertebrae, short long bones, contractures of the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles with limited movement at the shoulders and hips. Further, macrocephaly, microphthalmia, low set ears, micrognathia, hepatomegaly, and an omphalocele were noted. Following termination of the pregnancy, whole exome sequencing ultimately identified compound heterozygous mutations in the NEK9 gene. One mutation in our case, c.136G>T, has never been reported; the other, c.1432del, has been reported once. To date, NEK9 mutations have been documented in three families with all affected individuals diagnosed with arthrogryposis. Our patient underwent targeted gene variant testing in two subsequent pregnancies, confirming identification of one of the two familial NEK9 gene mutations each time. Both pregnancies culminated in term deliveries of healthy neonates. This case illustrates a diagnosis of an extremely rare single gene disorder in the pregnancy of a non-consanguineous German couple, providing further evidence toward arthrogryposis with other anomalies as a recessive disease associated with NEK9 gene mutations. Finally, this case demonstrates whole exome sequencing as a valuable adjunct tool for investigating etiology when multiple fetal anomalies are identified without diagnosis on more standard tests.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Rare Arthrogryposis Syndrome with Multiple Anomalies Diagnosed by Whole Exome Sequencing
    AU  - Audrey Rae Norby
    AU  - Caitlin Madden Clifford
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17
    T2  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JF  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JO  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
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    EP  - 131
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7820
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210904.17
    AB  - A 31-year-old gravida 1 para 0 was referred to our institution following a fetal anatomic survey demonstrating clubbed feet, flexed wrists, and skin edema. Ultrasound evaluation demonstrated these findings in addition to hemivertebrae, short long bones, contractures of the elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles with limited movement at the shoulders and hips. Further, macrocephaly, microphthalmia, low set ears, micrognathia, hepatomegaly, and an omphalocele were noted. Following termination of the pregnancy, whole exome sequencing ultimately identified compound heterozygous mutations in the NEK9 gene. One mutation in our case, c.136G>T, has never been reported; the other, c.1432del, has been reported once. To date, NEK9 mutations have been documented in three families with all affected individuals diagnosed with arthrogryposis. Our patient underwent targeted gene variant testing in two subsequent pregnancies, confirming identification of one of the two familial NEK9 gene mutations each time. Both pregnancies culminated in term deliveries of healthy neonates. This case illustrates a diagnosis of an extremely rare single gene disorder in the pregnancy of a non-consanguineous German couple, providing further evidence toward arthrogryposis with other anomalies as a recessive disease associated with NEK9 gene mutations. Finally, this case demonstrates whole exome sequencing as a valuable adjunct tool for investigating etiology when multiple fetal anomalies are identified without diagnosis on more standard tests.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, USA

  • Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, USA

  • Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, USA

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