Prenatal ultrasound findings in a fetus with congenital contractural arachnodactyly

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Oct;20(4):395-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00819.x.

Abstract

Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) or Beals-Hecht syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the fibrillin-2 (FBN2) gene. The principal features of CCA are a marfanoid habitus, multiple congenital contractures, camptodactyly, arachnodactyly, kyphoscoliosis, muscular hypoplasia, and external ear malformations. Our case is the first that shows typical sonographic signs in a fetus at 25 weeks' gestation with molecular genetically verified CCA in a large family with many members affected over four generations. This demonstrates that CCA can be detected prenatally by non-invasive ultrasonography. The importance of confirmation of CCA by means of DNA sequence analysis of the FBN2 gene is stressed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetal Diseases / genetics
  • Fibrillin-2
  • Fibrillins
  • Humans
  • Marfan Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Marfan Syndrome / embryology
  • Marfan Syndrome / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • FBN2 protein, human
  • Fibrillin-2
  • Fibrillins
  • Microfilament Proteins