Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of truncating POGZ mutations: Association with CNS malformations, skeletal abnormalities, and distinctive facial dysmorphism

Abstract

Exome sequencing has led to the comprehension of the molecular bases of several forms of neurodevelopmental disorders, a clinically heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). De novo mutations in POGZ has been causally linked to isolated ASD and syndromic ID, only recently. Here we report on a 15 year-old girl in whom exome sequencing allowed to identify a de novo POGZ truncating mutation as the molecular cause underlying a complex phenotype apparently not fitting any recognized syndrome. We describe the evolution of her clinical features with age, and review published clinical data of patients with POGZ mutations to systematically analyze the clinical spectrum associated with mutations. Our finding expands the clinical and molecular spectrum of POGZ mutations. Revision of the literature indicate that moderate to severe ID, microcephaly, variable CNS malformations, reduced growth, brachytelephalangy, and facial dysmorphism represent recurrent features associated with POGZ mutations.

Keywords: POGZ truncating mutation; brachydactyly; cerebellar hypoplasia; facial dysmorphism.