SMAD4 Pathogenic Variants in Seven New Brazilian Individuals With Myhre Syndrome Including a New Family

Abstract

Myhre syndrome is a rare disorder caused by pathogenic gain-of-function variants in the SMAD4 gene. Most of the patients have had de novo variants. There are several instances of autosomal dominant inheritance, and penetrance appears to be complete. We describe seven Brazilian patients, three of whom are siblings carrying the recurrent c.1486C>T p.(Arg496Cys) variant in SMAD4 inherited from the father. The other three patients are unrelated simplex cases. All affected individuals have clinical features commonly found in Myhre syndrome, including typical dysmorphic facial features, with intra- and interfamilial clinical heterogeneity. Five of the patients have developmental delay and/or clinical signs of intellectual disability. However, only one had neuropsychological testing. Only one patient had a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. As in previously reported families, this new family has the same c.1486C>T p.(Arg496Cys) variant. This is the first study describing Brazilian patients with Myhre syndrome, highlighting the clinical variability of this rare disease. We reinforce the need to investigate the parents to provide appropriate genetic counseling.