Baraitser-Winter Cerebrofrontofacial Syndrome

Baraitser-Winter syndrome (BWS) is a malformation syndrome, characterized by facial dysmorphism (hypertelorism with ptosis, broad bulbous nose, ridged metopic suture, arched eyebrows, progressive coarsening of the face), ocular coloboma, pachygyria and/or band heterotopias with antero-posterior gradient, progressive joint stiffening, and intellectual deficit of variable severity, often with severe epilepsy. Pachygyria - epilepsy - intellectual disability - dysmorphism (Fryns-Aftimos syndrome (FA); see this term) corresponds to the appearance of BWS in elderly patients.

Epidemiology

BWS and FA were initially considered separate entities. They were reported collectively in approximatively 30 unrelated patients so far.

Clinical description

The clinical picture includes striking dysmorphism, hypertelorism, metopic ridging giving a trigonocephalic appearance to the skull, wide palpebral fissures, long downslanted palpebral fissures, congenital ptosis, broad nose with large bulbous or flat tip, prominent nasal root, long philtrum, mild micrognathia and highly arched eyebrows. Facial characteristics get coarser in late infancy and adolescence, with marked nasogenian folds. Cleft lip and palate may be present. Ocular anomalies such as iris and/or retinal coloboma (see these terms) with or without microphthalmos (see this term) are frequent. Most patients present with some degree of cortical dysplasia, pachygyria (often more marked in the frontal area) and subcortical band heterotopias (see this term). In most severe cases, the brain has a lissencephalic aspect, but some patients have a normal MRI. Head circumference tends to evolve to microcephaly during infancy. Growth is mildly delayed, and final stature is below normal. Patients have been reported with hydronephrosis, but, visceral malformations are rare. Intellectual deficiency ranges from mild to profound and correlates with the severity of brain anomalies and the presence of seizures which may be drug-resistant. Limitation of movement in large joints (knee, shoulder, elbow) become apparent in adolescence, and affect walking abilities in adulthood. Kyphoscoliosis may also develop. In infancy, neurological problems are prominent and facial dysmorphism less obvious.

Etiology

BWS is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, caused by a heterozygous mutation in one of the 2 genes coding for ubiquitously expressed actins: ACTB, located to 7p22-p12 (BRWS1) and ACTG1 on 17q25.3 (BRWS2). All mutations are missense and probably act by a gain of function mechanism, as deletions of the same genes do not result in BWS phenotype.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis is confirmed by DNA sequencing of ACTG1 and ACTB.

Differential diagnosis

In infancy, BWS may resemble Noonan syndrome. Teebi Type Hypertelorism has similar palpebral appearance. CHARGE syndrome, Norman-Roberts type lissencephaly syndrome (see these terms) and other syndromes with lissencephaly/pachygyria as a major feature are partially overlapping.

Antenatal diagnosis

Abnormal gyration pattern may be detected prenatally. Recurrence risk is probably < 1%. Antenatal diagnosis is possible, but the low recurrence risk and the risk of induced miscarriage have to be discussed.

Genetic counseling

All molecularly confirmed cases are sporadic, with, in theory, an autosomal dominant transmission, but effective transmission has never been reported.

Management and treatment

Developmental delay is managed by appropriate educative measures. Epilepsy management is difficult, as in other forms of pachygyria, some patients are drug resistant, even with polytherapies. Orthopedic monitoring is mandatory, considering progressive joint limitations that could lead to loss of autonomous ambulation.

Prognosis

Early prognosis may be poor in those with severe brain anomalies, but most patients with milder CNS anomalies can reach adulthood, although most patients will never be autonomous.