Xp22.3 microdeletion syndrome with microphthalmia, sclerocornea, linear skin defects, and congenital heart defects

We report on an infant girl with congenital erythematous, linear skin lesions on face and neck, bilateral microphthalmia, sclerocornea, cataracts, and a complex cardiac anomaly including atrial septal and ventricular septal defects. This patient had an Xp22.3 microdeletion and a chromosome satellite on the abnormal X p-arm. The abnormal X chromosome was late replicating in peripheral blood lymphocytes and cultured skin fibroblasts. Four other patients with similar congenital anomalies and Xp deficiency have been reported previously and are compared with this patient. One patient had an interstitial or terminal deletion, but in others the material translocated to Xp22.3 was variable (Yq material in two patients, and Yp material and an unidentifiable satellite in one patient each). Several mechanisms are suggested by which this chromosome abnormality might produce this phenotype in these patients. Our patient is the first with this syndrome to have a congenital heart defect.