Chromosomal disorder
Number of patients reported
Proven or suspected causal gene(s)
References
Deletion 1p36
9
DVL1, SKI, RERE, PDPN, SPEN, CLCNKA, ECE1, HSPG2, LUZP1, WASF2, PRDM16, PRKCZ, UBE4B, MASP2
Microdeletion 5q35
2
NKX2-5
Deletion 8p23.1
3
GATA4
Duplication 9p
2
Unknown
Deletion and duplication 11q
1
ETS1
[50]
Duplication 15q
2
Unknown
Trisomy 18
1
Unknown
[1]
Deletion 18q21.3- > qter
3
NFATC1
Trisomy 21
8
Unknown
Syndromic forms of congenital heart disease also can be caused by single genes or be of unknown genetic origin. In a larger case series with 44 patients with Ebstein anomaly, 12 (27 %) had syndromic presentation, and 7 of those had distinct disorders including CHARGE syndrome (N = 2), VACTERL association, Noonan syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Holt-Oram syndrome, and Cornelia de Lange syndrome (one each) [12]. An additional two patients with CHARGE syndrome have been reported in the literature, both of which carry mutations in CHD7 (chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7), as well as one additional patient each with Kabuki syndrome, Holt-Oram syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Williams syndrome, and Ellis-van Creveld syndrome without mutation screening [62–67]. A single patient with thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia and Ebstein anomaly has been reported; interestingly, several other cardiac defects have been described in this syndrome, including one case of atrial standstill, which can be part of Ebstein syndrome [68–70]. A relatively high number of patients with Ebstein anomaly and Down syndrome have been reported in the literature (Table 53.1); however, one has to keep in mind that the denominator of all children born with trisomy 21 is much higher than for all other chromosomal imbalances listed here.
Conclusion
Clinical, epidemiological, and molecular evidence supports the hypothesis that Ebstein anomaly has strong genetic determinants. While the genetic causes are heterogenous, overlapping phenotypes are observed even in genetically distinct entities. Prime examples for these phenomena are left ventricular noncompaction in both MYH7 mutation and 1p36 deletion carriers or the spectrum of recurring right-sided malformations in patients with Ebstein anomaly and 18q21 deletion. Genes contributing to Ebstein anomaly affect diverse developmental pathways, with variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance being common observations in multiplex families. It is very likely that the causal genes identified to date act in concert with modifiers, either environmental or (epi)genetic. The most frequent chromosomal imbalances contributing to Ebstein anomaly are the microdeletions 1p36 and 8p23.1. It can be anticipated that use of molecular karyotyping and next-generation sequencing technologies will increase the gene catalogue involved in the pathogenesis of Ebstein anomaly.
Acknowledgments
GA is funded by the Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Nussia and André Aisenstadt Foundation, Fondation GO, and Fondation Leducq. He holds the Banque Nationale Research Chair in Cardiovascular Genetics.
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