Distinct phenotype associated with a cryptic subtelomeric deletion of 19p13.3-pter.

Telomeres are gene rich regions with a high recombination rate. Cryptic subtelomeric rearrangements are estimated to account for 5% of mental retardation/malformation syndromes. Here we present the first patient with a deletion of 19p13.3, identified by subtelomeric FISH analysis. His features included a distinctive facial appearance, cleft palate, hearing impairment, congenital heart malformation, keloid scarring, immune dysregulation, and mild learning difficulties. Subtelomeric FISH analysis identified a deletion of 19p13.3-pter. The deletion size was determined to be 1.2 Mb by FISH analysis. It extended from within the chromosomal region covered by BAC RP11-50C6 to 19pter. The deleted area encompassed approximately 60 genes. Fifteen possible candidate genes were considered with respect to the phenotype, including follistatin-related precursor 3 (FSTL3) and serine-threonine kinase 11 (STK-11). © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.