Genetics of Nail-Patella Syndrome Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Julie Hoover-Fong, MD, PhD, FACMG; Chief Editor: Bruce Buehler, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 2, 2012
 

History

  • Family history: Collect a full 3 generation pedigree to detect family history of autosomal dominant nail-patella syndrome (NPS). Currently, 88% of affected individuals have a positive family history of nail-patella syndrome. Nail-patella syndrome is fully penetrant, but significant interfamilial and intrafamilial variability is noted.
  • Nail/digit anomalies: Nail anomalies are present at birth.
  • Knees: Recurrent patellar dislocations, deformity of knee joint, and knee pain are noted.
  • Elbows: Elbow pain, decreased flexion, pronation, and supination are reported.
  • Back pain: This is common in nail-patella syndrome; underlying spinal problems such as spondylolisthesis may be observed.
  • Renal disease: Proteinuria, hypertension, and/or decreased renal function may be observed in patients with nail-patella syndrome. End-stage renal disease is relatively rare and is reported in approximately 5% of patients.
  • Preeclampsia: This condition is more common in patients with nail-patella syndrome than in the general population.
  • Ophthalmology: Ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma may be observed.
  • Neurology: Attention deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity (ADHD) may be more common in adults with nail-patella syndrome and does not exhibit the same increased male prevalence as in the general population.[6] Major depressive symptoms may also be part of the syndrome. A significant proportion of patients exhibit decreased sensitivity to pain and temperature in the extremities. Signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue may be present due to maldevelopment of the serotonergic system.
  • GI problems: Constipation and irritable bowel syndrome are more common in patients with nail-patella syndrome than in the general population.
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Physical

  • Nail/digit anomalies: Nails may be absent, hypoplasia, or dystrophic; triangular lunulae may be the sole nail anomaly. Typically, the thumb is most severely affected, with possible decreasing severity progressing to the fifth digit. Decreased creases over the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints are noted.
  • Patellar anomalies: Patellae may be absent or hypoplastic. Dislocation in the superior and lateral direction is common. Pain is also common and osteoarthritis may be present.
  • Iliac horns: These bony prominences are typically asymptomatic and may be palpable on the posterolateral iliac bones. If not palpable, they are often detected using radiography. They are present in about 70% of patients and are pathognomonic of nail-patella syndrome.
  • Elbow anomalies: Decreased flexion, supination, and pronation are noted. The radius may be hypoplastic and posteriorly placed. Skin webbing (pterygia) may be present.
  • Renal disease: Proteinuria with or without hematuria may be present in 30-50% of patients. This progresses to end-stage renal disease in approximately 5%. No evidence suggests that renal transplantation has different outcome in patients with nail-patella syndrome than in the general population.
  • Open-angle glaucoma: Optic nerve and visual field damage can be prevented with early detection of elevated intraocular pressure and appropriate treatment.
  • Lester sign: A hyperpigmented, irregular ring in the iris may be noted.
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Causes

  • The LMX1B gene is a transcription factor involved in the dorsoventral patterning of vertebrate limbs (including patterning of the nails, digits, elbows and patellae), the differentiation and function of kidney podocytes, development of the anterior eye structures, and the CNS.
  • The loss of function of one allele of LMX1B is the only known cause of nail-patella syndrome.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Julie Hoover-Fong, MD, PhD, FACMG  Assistant Professor, Director, Greenberg Center for Skeletal Dysplasias, McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

Julie Hoover-Fong, MD, PhD, FACMG is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Medical Genetics, American Society of Human Genetics, and International Skeletal Dysplasia Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Iain McIntosh, PhD  Professor of Medical Genetics, Chair, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Director, Stephen Gaffin Research Laboratory, American University of the Carribean

Iain McIntosh, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Human Genetics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Elizabeth Sweeney, MBChB, MD  Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, UK

Elizabeth Sweeney, MBChB, MD is a member of the following medical societies: British Society of Human Genetics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Christian J Renner, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Erlangen, Germany

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Leonard G Feld, MD, PhD, MMM, FAAP  Sara H Bissell and Howard C Bissell Endowed Chair in Pediatrics, Chief Medical Officer, Levine Children's Hospital, Carolinas Medical Center

Leonard G Feld, MD, PhD, MMM, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physician Executives, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP  Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine

Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society of Hospital Medicine

Disclosure: Baxter Honoraria Consulting

Chief Editor

Bruce Buehler, MD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Director RSA, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Bruce Buehler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association on Mental Retardation, American College of Medical Genetics, American College of Physician Executives, American Medical Association, and Nebraska Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Suzanne M Carter, MS, and Susan J Gross, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, FACMG, to the original writing and development of this article.

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Nail of a patient the nail-patella syndrome.
 
 
 
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