Corrections

Sep 1, 2000 Issue

Corrections

Am Fam Physician. 2000 Sep 1;62(5):958-960.

The article “Identification and Evaluation of Mental Retardation” (February 15, page 1059) contained an error in Table 2; the correct term for the fourth entry in the diagnosis column should be velocardiofacial syndrome rather than DiGeorge syndrome. The corrected table is reprinted on the following pages.

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TABLE 2

Common Syndromes Associated with Mental Retardation

Diagnosis	Incidence	Etiology, including inheritance	Clinical manifestations and early recognition	Associated conditions	Diagnostic evaluation*	Prognosis	Special considerations
Down syndrome	1 in 600 to 800 births	Results from extra copy of chromosome 21, usually a sporadic event; 2% of cases may be inherited from a balanced translocation carrier parent	Hypotonia; flat facial profile; upslanting palpebral fissures; small ears; in-curving fifth fingers; single transverse palmar creases	Slow growth; congenital heart defect; thyroid dysfunction; developmental delay, especially speech	Chromosome analysis in all patients; chromosome analysis of parents if translocation is found; pediatric cardiology evaluation with echocardiogram by 6 weeks of age	Cognitive limitations, with most in mild to moderate MR range; decreased life expectancy can be associated with congenital heart defect, especially if not recognized in early infancy	Except in cases where parent has a translocation, risk for recurrence is 1%
Fetal alcohol syndrome	0.05 to 3 in 1,000 children diagnosed annually in United States	Alcohol consumption by mother during pregnancy	Diagnosis can be made at birth, based on history, baby's facial features (medial epicanthal folds, wide nasal bridge, small upturned nose, long philtrum, narrow or wide upper lip), low birth measurements	May include retardation, behavior problems, ADHD, seizures, autism	Good history and physical examination imperative; history of maternal drinking, pre- and postnatal growth retardation, dysmorphic facial features, CNS involvement; no laboratory tests available	Varies; growth may improve during adolescence and facial features may soften, but behaviors may cause serious problems	Many of these children are adopted; FAS and fetal alcohol effects (usually developmental and behavioral problems) are totally preventable
Fragile X syndrome	1 in 2,000 to 3,000 male live births; females may also be affected	Abnormality in FMR-1 gene located on X chromosome; inherited in X-linked manner so males are more severely affected	Macrocephaly; large ears; enlarged testicles after puberty; hyperextensible fingers	Autism/autistic- like behaviors; developmental delay, especially speech; clumsiness; mitral valve prolapse	DNA testing for fragile X mutation (chromosome testing for fragile X misses up to 7% of cases); mothers of affected boys are obligate carriers of the gene	Normal life expectancy; mild to profound MR	Females usually less severely affected than males; up to 50% of females with mutation have MR or educational difficulties; risk for recurrence is 50%
Velocardio- facial syndrome	1 in 700 live births	Deletion of chromosome 22; usually de novo but may be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner	Cleft palate; congenital heart defect; speech delay; elongated face with almond- shaped eyes; wide nose with hypoplastic alae nasi; small ears; slender, hyperextensible fingers	Learning disabilities ± mild MR; psychiatric disorder in 10%	High-resolution chromosome analysis with chromosome painting (FISH) to detect chromosome 22 deletion; parents should also be tested	Normal life expectancy unless severe heart defect (e.g., truncus arteriosus, interrupted aortic arch) is present	Risk for recurrence as high as 50%, depending on family history
Unknown cause of MR	30 to 50% of all cases of MR	Variable; diagnosis may evolve over time, so repeated evaluations may be helpful	Nonspecific cluster of minor malformations; delayed milestones, especially language development	Behavioral phenotype may also aid diagnosis as course evolves	Cytogenetic studies; brain imaging; metabolic studies	Will vary considerably based on etiology (if it can be established) and/or severity	Diagnostic techniques that may aid in diagnosis are constantly being refined

*—See Table 3 for summary of indications for diagnostic and screening tests.

MR = mental retardation; ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; CNS = central nervous system; FAS = fetal alcohol syndrome; FISH = fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Information from references 4, 5, 7 and 18.

TABLE 2

Common Syndromes Associated with Mental Retardation

Diagnosis	Incidence	Etiology, including inheritance	Clinical manifestations and early recognition	Associated conditions	Diagnostic evaluation*	Prognosis	Special considerations
Down syndrome	1 in 600 to 800 births	Results from extra copy of chromosome 21, usually a sporadic event; 2% of cases may be inherited from a balanced translocation carrier parent	Hypotonia; flat facial profile; upslanting palpebral fissures; small ears; in-curving fifth fingers; single transverse palmar creases	Slow growth; congenital heart defect; thyroid dysfunction; developmental delay, especially speech	Chromosome analysis in all patients; chromosome analysis of parents if translocation is found; pediatric cardiology evaluation with echocardiogram by 6 weeks of age	Cognitive limitations, with most in mild to moderate MR range; decreased life expectancy can be associated with congenital heart defect, especially if not recognized in early infancy	Except in cases where parent has a translocation, risk for recurrence is 1%
Fetal alcohol syndrome	0.05 to 3 in 1,000 children diagnosed annually in United States	Alcohol consumption by mother during pregnancy	Diagnosis can be made at birth, based on history, baby's facial features (medial epicanthal folds, wide nasal bridge, small upturned nose, long philtrum, narrow or wide upper lip), low birth measurements	May include retardation, behavior problems, ADHD, seizures, autism	Good history and physical examination imperative; history of maternal drinking, pre- and postnatal growth retardation, dysmorphic facial features, CNS involvement; no laboratory tests available	Varies; growth may improve during adolescence and facial features may soften, but behaviors may cause serious problems	Many of these children are adopted; FAS and fetal alcohol effects (usually developmental and behavioral problems) are totally preventable
Fragile X syndrome	1 in 2,000 to 3,000 male live births; females may also be affected	Abnormality in FMR-1 gene located on X chromosome; inherited in X-linked manner so males are more severely affected	Macrocephaly; large ears; enlarged testicles after puberty; hyperextensible fingers	Autism/autistic- like behaviors; developmental delay, especially speech; clumsiness; mitral valve prolapse	DNA testing for fragile X mutation (chromosome testing for fragile X misses up to 7% of cases); mothers of affected boys are obligate carriers of the gene	Normal life expectancy; mild to profound MR	Females usually less severely affected than males; up to 50% of females with mutation have MR or educational difficulties; risk for recurrence is 50%
Velocardio- facial syndrome	1 in 700 live births	Deletion of chromosome 22; usually de novo but may be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner	Cleft palate; congenital heart defect; speech delay; elongated face with almond- shaped eyes; wide nose with hypoplastic alae nasi; small ears; slender, hyperextensible fingers	Learning disabilities ± mild MR; psychiatric disorder in 10%	High-resolution chromosome analysis with chromosome painting (FISH) to detect chromosome 22 deletion; parents should also be tested	Normal life expectancy unless severe heart defect (e.g., truncus arteriosus, interrupted aortic arch) is present	Risk for recurrence as high as 50%, depending on family history
Unknown cause of MR	30 to 50% of all cases of MR	Variable; diagnosis may evolve over time, so repeated evaluations may be helpful	Nonspecific cluster of minor malformations; delayed milestones, especially language development	Behavioral phenotype may also aid diagnosis as course evolves	Cytogenetic studies; brain imaging; metabolic studies	Will vary considerably based on etiology (if it can be established) and/or severity	Diagnostic techniques that may aid in diagnosis are constantly being refined

*—See Table 3 for summary of indications for diagnostic and screening tests.

MR = mental retardation; ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; CNS = central nervous system; FAS = fetal alcohol syndrome; FISH = fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Information from references 4, 5, 7 and 18.

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