Case report
Adult case of partial trisomy 9q
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* Corresponding author: Keith Tiong keithtiong@aol.com
1 School of Medicine, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
2 Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Mater Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
3 Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
4 Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
BMC Medical Genetics 2010, 11:26 doi:10.1186/1471-2350-11-26
Published: 16 February 2010Abstract
Background
Complete and partial trisomy 9 is the fourth most common chromosomal disorder. It is also associated with various congenital characteristics affecting the cranio-facial, skeletal, central nervous, gastrointestinal, cardiac and renal systems. Very few cases have been reported in adults. Partial trisomy 9q is also associated with short stature, poor growth and growth hormone deficiency. This is the first reported case of an extensive endocrinology investigation of short stature in trisomy 9q and the outcome of growth hormone treatment.
Case Presentation
The case involves a 23-year-old female of pure partial trisomy 9q. The case involves a 23-year old female with pure partial trisomy 9q involving a duplication of 9q22.1 to q32, de novo, confirmed by genetic studies using fluorescene in situ hybridization (FISH) method. The diagnosis was at 6 years of age. She did not demonstrate all the congenital morphologies identified with trisomy 9q disorders especially in relation to multi-organ morphologies. There is also a degree of associated intellectual impairment. At prepuberty, she was referred for poor growth and was diagnosed with partial growth hormone deficiency. She responded very well to treatment with growth hormone and is currently living an independent life with some support.
Conclusions
Trisomy 9q is associated with short stature and failure to thrive. Growth hormone deficiency should be identified in cases of trisomy 9q and treatment offered. This is the first reported case of response to growth hormone replacement in partial trisomy 9.