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Schwartz-Jampel syndrome type 1(SJS1)

MedGen UID:
1647990
Concept ID:
C4551479
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: CHONDRODYSTROPHIC MYOTONIA; MYOTONIC MYOPATHY, DWARFISM, CHONDRODYSTROPHY, AND OCULAR AND FACIAL ABNORMALITIES; SCHWARTZ-JAMPEL-ABERFELD SYNDROME; SJA SYNDROME
 
Gene (location): HSPG2 (1p36.12)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0100435
OMIM®: 255800

Definition

Schwartz-Jampel syndrome type 1 (SJS1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by muscle stiffness (myotonia) and chondrodysplasia. Affected individuals usually present in childhood with permanent muscle stiffness or bone deformities. Common clinical features include mask-like facies (narrow palpebral fissures, blepharospasm, and pursed lips); permanent muscle stiffness with continuous skeletal muscle activity recorded on electromyography; dwarfism; pectus carinatum; kyphoscoliosis; bowing of long bones; and epiphyseal, metaphyseal, and hip dysplasia. The disorder is slowly progressive but does not appear to alter life span (summary by Stum et al., 2006). [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Schwartz-Jampel syndrome is a rare condition characterized by permanent muscle stiffness (myotonia) and bone abnormalities known as chondrodysplasia. The signs and symptoms of this condition become apparent sometime after birth, usually in early childhood. Either muscle stiffness or chondrodysplasia can appear first. The muscle and bone abnormalities worsen in childhood, although most affected individuals have a normal lifespan. The specific features of Schwartz-Jampel syndrome vary widely.

Myotonia involves continuous tensing (contraction) of muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles) throughout the body. This sustained muscle contraction causes stiffness that interferes with eating, sitting, walking, and other movements. Sustained contraction of muscles in the face leads to a fixed, "mask-like" facial expression with narrow eye openings (blepharophimosis) and pursed lips. This facial appearance is very specific to Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. Affected individuals may also be nearsighted and experience abnormal blinking or spasms of the eyelids (blepharospasm).

Chondrodysplasia affects the development of the skeleton, particularly the long bones in the arms and legs and the bones of the hips. These bones are shortened and unusually wide at the ends, so affected individuals have short stature. The long bones may also be abnormally curved (bowed). Other bone abnormalities associated with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome include a protruding chest (pectus carinatum), abnormal curvature of the spine, flattened bones of the spine (platyspondyly), and joint abnormalities called contractures that further restrict movement.

Researchers originally described two types of Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. Type 1 has the signs and symptoms described above, while type 2 has more severe bone abnormalities and other health problems and is usually life-threatening in early infancy. Researchers have since discovered that the condition they thought was Schwartz-Jampel syndrome type 2 is actually part of another disorder, Stüve-Wiedemann syndrome, which is caused by mutations in a different gene. They have recommended that the designation Schwartz-Jampel syndrome type 2 no longer be used.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/schwartz-jampel-syndrome

Clinical features

From HPO
Decreased testicular size
MedGen UID:
66027
Concept ID:
C0241355
Finding
Reduced volume of the testicle (the male gonad).
Clubfoot
MedGen UID:
3130
Concept ID:
C0009081
Congenital Abnormality
Clubfoot is a congenital limb deformity defined as fixation of the foot in cavus, adductus, varus, and equinus (i.e., inclined inwards, axially rotated outwards, and pointing downwards) with concomitant soft tissue abnormalities (Cardy et al., 2007). Clubfoot may occur in isolation or as part of a syndrome (e.g., diastrophic dysplasia, 222600). Clubfoot has been reported with deficiency of long bones and mirror-image polydactyly (Gurnett et al., 2008; Klopocki et al., 2012).
Pes planus
MedGen UID:
42034
Concept ID:
C0016202
Anatomical Abnormality
A foot where the longitudinal arch of the foot is in contact with the ground or floor when the individual is standing; or, in a patient lying supine, a foot where the arch is in contact with the surface of a flat board pressed against the sole of the foot by the examiner with a pressure similar to that expected from weight bearing; or, the height of the arch is reduced.
Micromelia
MedGen UID:
10031
Concept ID:
C0025995
Congenital Abnormality
The presence of abnormally small extremities.
Coxa valga
MedGen UID:
116080
Concept ID:
C0239137
Finding
Coxa valga is a deformity of the hip in which the angle between the femoral shaft and the femoral neck is increased compared to age-adjusted values (about 150 degrees in newborns gradually reducing to 120-130 degrees in adults).
Flexion contracture of toe
MedGen UID:
237248
Concept ID:
C1406835
Finding
One or more bent (flexed) toe joints that cannot be straightened actively or passively.
Coxa vara
MedGen UID:
1790477
Concept ID:
C5551440
Anatomical Abnormality
Coxa vara includes all forms of decrease of the femoral neck shaft angle (the angle between the neck and the shaft of the femur) to less than 120 degrees.
Short stature
MedGen UID:
87607
Concept ID:
C0349588
Finding
A height below that which is expected according to age and gender norms. Although there is no universally accepted definition of short stature, many refer to "short stature" as height more than 2 standard deviations below the mean for age and gender (or below the 3rd percentile for age and gender dependent norms).
Low-set ears
MedGen UID:
65980
Concept ID:
C0239234
Congenital Abnormality
Upper insertion of the ear to the scalp below an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the inner canthi of the eye and extending posteriorly to the ear.
Overfolded helix
MedGen UID:
325239
Concept ID:
C1837731
Finding
A condition in which the helix is folded over to a greater degree than normal. That is, excessive curling of the helix edge, whereby the free edge is parallel to the plane of the ear.
Waddling gait
MedGen UID:
66667
Concept ID:
C0231712
Finding
Weakness of the hip girdle and upper thigh muscles, for instance in myopathies, leads to an instability of the pelvis on standing and walking. If the muscles extending the hip joint are affected, the posture in that joint becomes flexed and lumbar lordosis increases. The patients usually have difficulties standing up from a sitting position. Due to weakness in the gluteus medius muscle, the hip on the side of the swinging leg drops with each step (referred to as Trendelenburg sign). The gait appears waddling. The patients frequently attempt to counteract the dropping of the hip on the swinging side by bending the trunk towards the side which is in the stance phase (in the German language literature this is referred to as Duchenne sign). Similar gait patterns can be caused by orthopedic conditions when the origin and the insertion site of the gluteus medius muscle are closer to each other than normal, for instance due to a posttraumatic elevation of the trochanter or pseudarthrosis of the femoral neck.
High pitched voice
MedGen UID:
66836
Concept ID:
C0241703
Finding
An abnormal increase in the pitch (frequency) of the voice.
Hyporeflexia
MedGen UID:
195967
Concept ID:
C0700078
Finding
Reduction of neurologic reflexes such as the knee-jerk reaction.
Intellectual disability
MedGen UID:
811461
Concept ID:
C3714756
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Intellectual disability, previously referred to as mental retardation, is characterized by subnormal intellectual functioning that occurs during the developmental period. It is defined by an IQ score below 70.
Inguinal hernia
MedGen UID:
6817
Concept ID:
C0019294
Finding
Protrusion of the contents of the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal.
Umbilical hernia
MedGen UID:
9232
Concept ID:
C0019322
Anatomical Abnormality
Protrusion of abdominal contents through a defect in the abdominal wall musculature around the umbilicus. Skin and subcutaneous tissue overlie the defect.
Congenital hip dislocation
MedGen UID:
9258
Concept ID:
C0019555
Disease or Syndrome
Micrognathia
MedGen UID:
44428
Concept ID:
C0025990
Congenital Abnormality
Developmental hypoplasia of the mandible.
Osteoporosis
MedGen UID:
14535
Concept ID:
C0029456
Disease or Syndrome
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequent increase in bone fragility. According to the WHO criteria, osteoporosis is defined as a BMD that lies 2.5 standard deviations or more below the average value for young healthy adults (a T-score below -2.5 SD).
Scoliosis
MedGen UID:
11348
Concept ID:
C0036439
Disease or Syndrome
The presence of an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
Muscle weakness
MedGen UID:
57735
Concept ID:
C0151786
Finding
Reduced strength of muscles.
Joint contracture of the hand
MedGen UID:
56382
Concept ID:
C0158113
Finding
Contractures of one ore more joints of the hands meaning chronic loss of joint motion due to structural changes in non-bony tissue.
Pectus carinatum
MedGen UID:
57643
Concept ID:
C0158731
Finding
A deformity of the chest caused by overgrowth of the ribs and characterized by protrusion of the sternum.
Muscle stiffness
MedGen UID:
113151
Concept ID:
C0221170
Sign or Symptom
A condition in which muscles cannot be moved quickly without accompanying pain or spasm.
Shoulder flexion contracture
MedGen UID:
592333
Concept ID:
C0409336
Acquired Abnormality
Chronic reduction in active and passive mobility of the shoulder joint due to structural changes in muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin that prevents normal movement.
Wrist flexion contracture
MedGen UID:
592338
Concept ID:
C0409345
Acquired Abnormality
A chronic loss of wrist joint motion due to structural changes in muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin that prevent normal movement of the joints of the wrist.
Hip contracture
MedGen UID:
140815
Concept ID:
C0409354
Acquired Abnormality
Lack of full passive range of motion (restrictions in flexion, extension, or other movements) of the hip joint resulting from structural changes of non-bony tissues, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and/or skin.
Delayed skeletal maturation
MedGen UID:
108148
Concept ID:
C0541764
Finding
A decreased rate of skeletal maturation. Delayed skeletal maturation can be diagnosed on the basis of an estimation of the bone age from radiographs of specific bones in the human body.
Muscular atrophy
MedGen UID:
892680
Concept ID:
C0541794
Pathologic Function
The presence of skeletal muscular atrophy (which is also known as amyotrophy).
Kyphoscoliosis
MedGen UID:
154361
Concept ID:
C0575158
Anatomical Abnormality
An abnormal curvature of the spine in both a coronal (lateral) and sagittal (back-to-front) plane.
Cervical kyphosis
MedGen UID:
107898
Concept ID:
C0575170
Finding
Exaggerated convexity of the cervical vertebral column, causing the cervical spine to bow outwards and take on a rounded appearance.
Quadriceps muscle weakness
MedGen UID:
154367
Concept ID:
C0577655
Sign or Symptom
Weakness of the quadriceps muscle (that is, of the muscle fasciculus of quadriceps femoris).
Percussion myotonia
MedGen UID:
148293
Concept ID:
C0751359
Finding
A localized myotonic contraction in a muscle in reaction to percussion (tapping with the examiner's finger, a rubber percussion hammer, or a similar object).
Lumbar hyperlordosis
MedGen UID:
263149
Concept ID:
C1184923
Finding
An abnormal accentuation of the inward curvature of the spine in the lumbar region.
Coronal cleft vertebrae
MedGen UID:
320483
Concept ID:
C1834954
Finding
Frontal schisis (cleft or cleavage) of vertebral bodies.
Squared iliac bones
MedGen UID:
324963
Concept ID:
C1838186
Finding
A shift from the normally round (convex) appearance of the iliac wing towards a square-like appearance.
Platyspondyly
MedGen UID:
335010
Concept ID:
C1844704
Finding
A flattened vertebral body shape with reduced distance between the vertebral endplates.
Metaphyseal widening
MedGen UID:
341364
Concept ID:
C1849039
Finding
Abnormal widening of the metaphyseal regions of long bones.
Anterior bowing of long bones
MedGen UID:
342554
Concept ID:
C1850644
Finding
An abnormal anterior curvature of a long bone.
Bowing of the long bones
MedGen UID:
340849
Concept ID:
C1855340
Congenital Abnormality
A bending or abnormal curvature of a long bone.
Malar flattening
MedGen UID:
347616
Concept ID:
C1858085
Finding
Underdevelopment of the malar prominence of the jugal bone (zygomatic bone in mammals), appreciated in profile, frontal view, and/or by palpation.
Skeletal muscle hypertrophy
MedGen UID:
853739
Concept ID:
C2265792
Finding
Abnormal increase in muscle size and mass not due to training.
EMG: myotonic discharges
MedGen UID:
867779
Concept ID:
C4022169
Finding
High frequency discharges in electromyography (EMG) that vary in amplitude and frequency, waxing and waning continuously with firing frequencies ranging from 150/second down to 20/second and producing a sound that has been referred to as a dive bomber sound.
Abnormal femoral epiphysis morphology
MedGen UID:
870585
Concept ID:
C4025034
Anatomical Abnormality
An anomaly of a growth plate of a femur.
Bowing of the legs
MedGen UID:
1807399
Concept ID:
C5574706
Finding
A bending or abnormal curvature affecting a long bone of the leg.
Elevated circulating creatine kinase concentration
MedGen UID:
69128
Concept ID:
C0241005
Finding
An elevation of the level of the enzyme creatine kinase (also known as creatine phosphokinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) in the blood. CK levels can be elevated in a number of clinical disorders such as myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, and muscular dystrophy.
Malignant hyperthermia
MedGen UID:
1830388
Concept ID:
C5779784
Pathologic Function
Malignant hyperthermia is characterized by a rapid increase in temperature to 39-42 degrees C. Malignant hyperthermia may occur in response to either inhalational anesthetics such as halothane, to muscle relaxants such as succinylcholine, or to exercise.
Weak voice
MedGen UID:
66033
Concept ID:
C0241700
Finding
Reduced intensity (volume) of speech.
Blepharophimosis
MedGen UID:
2670
Concept ID:
C0005744
Congenital Abnormality
A fixed reduction in the vertical distance between the upper and lower eyelids with short palpebral fissures.
Narrow mouth
MedGen UID:
44435
Concept ID:
C0026034
Congenital Abnormality
Distance between the commissures of the mouth more than 2 SD below the mean. Alternatively, an apparently decreased width of the oral aperture (subjective).
High palate
MedGen UID:
66814
Concept ID:
C0240635
Congenital Abnormality
Height of the palate more than 2 SD above the mean (objective) or palatal height at the level of the first permanent molar more than twice the height of the teeth (subjective).
Concave nasal ridge
MedGen UID:
78105
Concept ID:
C0264169
Finding
Nasal ridge curving posteriorly to an imaginary line that connects the nasal root and tip.
Mask-like facies
MedGen UID:
140860
Concept ID:
C0424448
Finding
A lack of facial expression often with staring eyes and a slightly open mouth.
Short neck
MedGen UID:
99267
Concept ID:
C0521525
Finding
Diminished length of the neck.
Pursed lips
MedGen UID:
371254
Concept ID:
C1832130
Finding
An abnormality of the appearance of the face caused by constant contraction of the lips leading to a puckered or pursed appearance.
Deep philtrum
MedGen UID:
374311
Concept ID:
C1839797
Finding
Accentuated, prominent philtral ridges giving rise to an exaggerated groove in the midline between the nasal base and upper vermillion border.
Flat face
MedGen UID:
342829
Concept ID:
C1853241
Finding
Absence of concavity or convexity of the face when viewed in profile.
Full cheeks
MedGen UID:
355661
Concept ID:
C1866231
Finding
Increased prominence or roundness of soft tissues between zygomata and mandible.
Narrow palpebral fissure
MedGen UID:
382506
Concept ID:
C2675021
Finding
Reduction in the vertical distance between the upper and lower eyelids.
Generalized hirsutism
MedGen UID:
336538
Concept ID:
C1849211
Finding
Abnormally increased hair growth over much of the entire body.
Long eyelashes in irregular rows
MedGen UID:
340588
Concept ID:
C1850640
Finding
Ptosis
MedGen UID:
2287
Concept ID:
C0005745
Disease or Syndrome
The upper eyelid margin is positioned 3 mm or more lower than usual and covers the superior portion of the iris (objective); or, the upper lid margin obscures at least part of the pupil (subjective).
Hypertelorism
MedGen UID:
9373
Concept ID:
C0020534
Finding
Although hypertelorism means an excessive distance between any paired organs (e.g., the nipples), the use of the word has come to be confined to ocular hypertelorism. Hypertelorism occurs as an isolated feature and is also a feature of many syndromes, e.g., Opitz G syndrome (see 300000), Greig cephalopolysyndactyly (175700), and Noonan syndrome (163950) (summary by Cohen et al., 1995).
Myopia
MedGen UID:
44558
Concept ID:
C0027092
Disease or Syndrome
Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is an eye condition that causes blurry distance vision. People who are nearsighted have more trouble seeing things that are far away (such as when driving) than things that are close up (such as when reading or using a computer). If it is not treated with corrective lenses or surgery, nearsightedness can lead to squinting, eyestrain, headaches, and significant visual impairment.\n\nNearsightedness usually begins in childhood or adolescence. It tends to worsen with age until adulthood, when it may stop getting worse (stabilize). In some people, nearsightedness improves in later adulthood.\n\nFor normal vision, light passes through the clear cornea at the front of the eye and is focused by the lens onto the surface of the retina, which is the lining of the back of the eye that contains light-sensing cells. People who are nearsighted typically have eyeballs that are too long from front to back. As a result, light entering the eye is focused too far forward, in front of the retina instead of on its surface. It is this change that causes distant objects to appear blurry. The longer the eyeball is, the farther forward light rays will be focused and the more severely nearsighted a person will be.\n\nNearsightedness is measured by how powerful a lens must be to correct it. The standard unit of lens power is called a diopter. Negative (minus) powered lenses are used to correct nearsightedness. The more severe a person's nearsightedness, the larger the number of diopters required for correction. In an individual with nearsightedness, one eye may be more nearsighted than the other.\n\nEye doctors often refer to nearsightedness less than -5 or -6 diopters as "common myopia." Nearsightedness of -6 diopters or more is commonly called "high myopia." This distinction is important because high myopia increases a person's risk of developing other eye problems that can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. These problems include tearing and detachment of the retina, clouding of the lens (cataract), and an eye disease called glaucoma that is usually related to increased pressure within the eye. The risk of these other eye problems increases with the severity of the nearsightedness. The term "pathological myopia" is used to describe cases in which high myopia leads to tissue damage within the eye.
Cataract
MedGen UID:
39462
Concept ID:
C0086543
Disease or Syndrome
A cataract is an opacity or clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its capsule.
Microcornea
MedGen UID:
78610
Concept ID:
C0266544
Congenital Abnormality
A congenital abnormality of the cornea in which the cornea and the anterior segment of the eye are smaller than normal. The horizontal diameter of the cornea does not reach 10 mm even in adulthood.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Leiva-Gea A, Martos Lirio MF, Barreda Bonis AC, Marín Del Barrio S, Heath KE, Marín Reina P, Guillén-Navarro E, Santos Simarro F, Riaño Galán I, Yeste Fernández D, Leiva-Gea I
An Pediatr (Engl Ed) 2022 Dec;97(6):423.e1-423.e11. Epub 2022 Nov 5 doi: 10.1016/j.anpede.2022.10.004. PMID: 36347803
Rossi V, Lee B, Marom R
Curr Opin Pediatr 2019 Dec;31(6):708-715. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000813. PMID: 31693577Free PMC Article
Javaid MK, Boyce A, Appelman-Dijkstra N, Ong J, Defabianis P, Offiah A, Arundel P, Shaw N, Pos VD, Underhil A, Portero D, Heral L, Heegaard AM, Masi L, Monsell F, Stanton R, Dijkstra PDS, Brandi ML, Chapurlat R, Hamdy NAT, Collins MT
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2019 Jun 13;14(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13023-019-1102-9. PMID: 31196103Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Diagnosis

Yan W, Dai J, Shi D, Xu X, Han X, Xu Z, Chen D, Teng H, Jiang Q
Mol Med Rep 2018 Aug;18(2):1761-1765. Epub 2018 Jun 6 doi: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9143. PMID: 29901129
Das Bhowmik A, Dalal A, Matta D, Kandadai RM, Kanikannan MA, Aggarwal S
Neuromuscul Disord 2016 Nov;26(11):809-814. Epub 2016 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.07.004. PMID: 27521129

Therapy

Eikermann M, Bredendiek M, Schaper J, Hövel M, Peters J
Neuropediatrics 2002 Feb;33(1):43-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-23596. PMID: 11930277

Prognosis

Das Bhowmik A, Dalal A, Matta D, Kandadai RM, Kanikannan MA, Aggarwal S
Neuromuscul Disord 2016 Nov;26(11):809-814. Epub 2016 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.07.004. PMID: 27521129

Clinical prediction guides

Das Bhowmik A, Dalal A, Matta D, Kandadai RM, Kanikannan MA, Aggarwal S
Neuromuscul Disord 2016 Nov;26(11):809-814. Epub 2016 Jul 16 doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.07.004. PMID: 27521129

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