Clinical Description
Thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome is characterized by bilateral absence of the radii with the presence of both thumbs and thrombocytopenia that is generally transient. Additional manifestations can include cow's milk allergy and anomalies of the lower limbs, ribs, vertebrae, heart, and genitourinary system. To date, more than 150 individuals have been reported with a TAR-related RBM8A variant [Klopocki et al 2007, Giordano et al 2011, Houeijeh et al 2011, Albers et al 2012, Bottillo et al 2013, Papoulidis et al 2014, Yassaee et al 2014, Kumar et al 2015, Tassano et al 2015, Nicchia et al 2016, Diep & Arcasoy 2017, Manukjan et al 2017, Brodie et al 2019, Boussion et al 2020, Miertuš et al 2020, Travessa et al 2020, Beauvais et al 2021, da Rocha et al 2021, Ding et al 2021, Morgan et al 2021, Espinoza et al 2022, Farlett et al 2022]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with TAR syndrome is based on these reports.
Table 2.
Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome: Frequency of Select Features
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Feature | % of Persons w/Feature |
---|
Limb anomalies | 100% |
Thrombocytopenia | 96% |
Cardiac anomalies | 17% |
Gastrointestinal manifestations | 26% |
Genitourinary anomalies | 24% |
Limb anomalies can affect both upper and lower limbs; upper limb involvement tends to be more severe than lower limb involvement. Individuals with TAR syndrome almost always have bilateral absence or hypoplasia of the radius. The thumbs are always present and are of near-normal size but somewhat wider and flatter than usual. Thumbs are also held in flexion against the palm, and tend to have limited function, particularly in terms of grasp and pinch activities [Goldfarb et al 2007].
The upper limbs may also have hypoplasia or absence of the ulnae, humeri, and shoulder girdles. Fingers may show syndactyly, and fifth-finger clinodactyly is common.
Lower limbs are affected in almost half of indiviuals with TAR syndrome; hip dislocation, coxa valga, femoral and/or tibial torsion, genu varum, and absence of the patella are common findings. The most severe limb involvement is tetraphocomelia.
Thrombocytopenia may be congenital or may develop within the first few weeks to months of life. In most individuals, platelet counts remain low during the first two years of life; they then increase but do not reach the lower reference value [Fiedler et al 2012, Manukjan et al 2017].
Cow's milk allergy is common, and can be associated with exacerbation of thrombocytopenia, either by direct immunoglobulin E (IgE) immune-mediated mechanism or secondary to increased gastrointestinal bleeding caused by loss of coagulation proteins [Farlett et al 2022].
Cardiac anomalies usually include septal defects (e.g., atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent foramen ovale) rather than complex cardiac malformations [Hedberg & Lipton 1988, Greenhalgh et al 2002]. One individual with tetralogy of Fallot has been reported [Kumar et al 2015].
Gastrointestinal involvement includes cow's milk allergy or intolerance and an increased susceptibility to gastroenteritis [Greenhalgh et al 2002]. Both tend to improve with age. These findings may be underreported since many fetuses and adults with TAR syndrome are described in the literature. Cow's milk intolerance may present with poor weight gain, failure to thrive, vomiting, or diarrhea, requiring non-cow's milk formulas. Unrelated to cow's milk intolerance, an increased susceptibility to gastroenteritis and dehydration requiring intravenous fluids has been reported in 30% of individuals [Greenhalgh et al 2002].
Genitourinary anomalies include mostly congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), such as kidney agenesis or malrotation, horseshoe kidney, hydronephrosis, and pyelectasis. Rarely, Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (agenesis of uterus, cervix, and upper part of the vagina) has been reported [Griesinger et al 2005, Klopocki et al 2007, Ahmad & Pope 2008].
Other hematologic features have been rarely reported. During the first year of life some children develop anemia that cannot be fully attributed to increased bleeding as a result of thrombocytopenia. Some individuals become severely anemic, requiring red blood cell transfusions (particularly those with RBM8A variant c.-21G>A) [Manukjan et al 2017].
Leukemoid reactions have been reported in some individuals with TAR syndrome, with white blood cell counts exceeding 35,000 cells/mm3. Leukemoid reactions are generally transient [Klopocki et al 2007]. However, several individuals with acute myeloid leukemia [Rao et al 1997, Fadoo & Naqvi 2002, Go & Johnston 2003, Jameson-Lee et al 2018, Boussion et al 2020] or acute lymphoblastic leukemia [Camitta & Rock 1993] have been reported.
Cognitive development is usually normal in individuals with TAR syndrome.
Growth. Most have height at or below the 50th centile.
Other skeletal manifestations such as rib and vertebral anomalies (e.g., cervical rib, fused cervical vertebrae, vertebral segmentation defects) are relatively rare.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis has been rarely reported in individuals with TAR syndrome [Giordano et al 2011, Manukjan et al 2017, Hipólito et al 2019, Boussion et al 2020].