Clinical Description
To date, approximately 280 individuals have been identified with a pathogenic variant in AHDC1 [Jiang et al 2018]. The striking features of XGS include delayed motor milestones, speech delay, cognitive impairment, hypotonia, structural brain anomalies, dysmorphic features, and sleep apnea, in addition to variable presentation of secondary features [Xia et al 2014, Yang et al 2015, García-Acero & Acosta 2017, Park et al 2017, Jiang et al 2018, Ritter et al 2018, Díaz-Ordoñez et al 2019, Cardoso-Dos-Santos et al 2020, Wang et al 2020, Khayat et al 2021b]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these published reports.
Table 2.
Select Features of Xia-Gibbs Syndrome
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Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
---|
DD | 94% | Delayed motor milestones |
Speech delay | 94% | Most are nonverbal or have very limited speech. |
Hypotonia | 88% | Sometimes reported as "low muscle tone" |
ID | 88% | Moderate to severe |
Dysmorphic features | 80% | Typically nonspecific |
Ataxia | 65% | |
Short stature | 50% | |
Seizures | 45% | |
Sleep apnea | 41% | Often obstructive in nature |
Eye anomalies / vision issues | 40% | Strabismus is the most common finding |
ASD | 30% | |
Behavioral concerns | 30% | Impulsiveness, aggression, self-injury, anxiety, poor social interaction, sleep disturbances, ADHD |
Scoliosis | 26% | |
Laryngomalacia | 20% | |
ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ASD = autism spectrum disorder; DD = developmental delay; ID = intellectual disability
Developmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID). Delayed developmental milestones have been reported in the first year in concert with generalized hypotonia.
Speech delay. All individuals with XGS have delayed speech and language development. Most are nonverbal or have very limited speech.
In one study the average age of using a first word was 2.75 years and the median age for using two words together was 3.5 years [
Jiang et al 2018].
Language delay was more pronounced in males than females, with one small study of 20 affected individuals demonstrating that affected males were statistically significantly more likely to be nonverbal compared to affected females (p<.01) [
Jiang et al 2018]. Expressive language development was more severely impaired than receptive language skills [
Jiang et al 2018].
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). About one third of affected individuals either have a clinical diagnosis of an ASD or were assessed for an ASD based on a "high risk" score on the M-CHAT [Jiang et al 2018, Khayat et al 2021b]. A female presenting with high-functioning autism spectrum without intellectual disability has been reported [Della Vecchia et al 2021]. This individual also had attention deficit, motor dyspraxia, and a disharmonic intelligence profile, with better verbal performance. Other reports of individuals with XGS who displayed autistic symptoms with poor social interaction, or who had been diagnosed with ASD, have been documented [Yang et al 2015, Díaz-Ordoñez et al 2019, Faergeman et al 2021, Mubungu et al 2021].
Behavioral problems.
Yang et al [2015] reported one individual with aggression and self-injury and another with self-injurious behavior. Self-injurious behavior has also been reported in several other individuals with XGS [Jiang et al 2018, Díaz-Ordoñez et al 2019, Murdock et al 2019, Cardoso-Dos-Santos et al 2020, Faergeman et al 2021]. Other common behavioral problems reported in individuals with XGS include the following [Xia et al 2014, Jiang et al 2018, Murdock et al 2019, Cardoso-Dos-Santos et al 2020, Della Vecchia et al 2021, Faergeman et al 2021, Mubungu et al 2021]:
Behavioral issues in affected individuals is an ongoing active area of study. The degree of manifestation of these behavioral features is variable among individuals with XGS, and not all affected individuals will display these features.
Neurologic
Movement disorders. Ataxia, tremors, and bradykinesia have been frequently associated with XGS, typically first noted in childhood or adolescence [
Yang et al 2015,
Murdock et al 2019].
The median age of seizure onset is four years (range 9 months to ~12 years) [
Jiang et al 2018].
Abnormal EEG recordings have been reported in about 50% of individuals. This can include capturing seizures on EEG, but could also include individuals with diffuse slowing or other EEG abnormalities.
Seizures typically respond to standard anti-seizure medication.
Neuroimaging. More than half of affected individuals have delayed myelination or hypomyelination on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Other findings in those studied have included hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, posterior fossa cysts, and dysmorphic sulci-gyri [Xia et al 2014, Yang et al 2015, Jiang et al 2018, Ritter et al 2018, García-Acero & Acosta 2017, Gumus 2020].
Growth and feeding issues. Many individuals with XGS have a history of growth problems including short stature (length and/or height >-2 SD) and feeding difficulties [Yang et al 2015].
Dysmorphic features. Nonspecific dysmorphic facial features are a common finding in affected individuals [Xia et al 2014, Yang et al 2015, García-Acero & Acosta 2017, Jiang et al 2018, Ritter et al 2018, Cardoso-Dos-Santos et al 2020] and generally include:
Sleep apnea and respiratory abnormalities. Sleep apnea is present in about 45% of affected individuals and is mostly obstructive in nature [Xia et al 2014, Yang et al 2015, Jiang et al 2018, Ritter et al 2018, Cardoso-Dos-Santos et al 2020, Khayat et al 2021b].
Sleep disturbance is also a common finding with some affected individuals reported to have abnormal breathing patterns, breath-holding episodes, and irregular breathing patterns at night.
Many use respiratory support. CPAP, BiPAP, and supplementary oxygen have been used during sleep at night.
Some affected individuals also have structural airway issues, including laryngomalacia and tracheomalacia. Surgical intervention may be pursued in some cases.
These occurrences suggest the need for close monitoring of airway function and consideration of referral to pulmonology (see
Management).
Scoliosis. Scoliosis is common.
Eyes/vision. Strabismus has been described in more than half of individuals with XGS [Yang et al 2015, Jiang et al 2018, Ritter et al 2018, Gumus 2020].
Some affected individuals have nystagmus, myopia, hyperopia, and/or ptosis.
The severity of eye anomalies varies among individuals with XGS, with visual problems requiring correction and many affected individuals wearing glasses.
Hearing. Sensorineural hearing loss has been reported in one individual [Ritter et al 2018].
Other associated features
Skin. Almost half of the individuals with XGS have an abnormality in the skin and in other connective tissues. Specifically, cutis aplasia and soft loose skin have been frequently reported [
Ritter et al 2018,
Murdock et al 2019].
Prognosis. It is unknown whether life span in Xia-Gibbs syndrome is abnormal. One reported individual is alive at age 55 years, demonstrating that survival into adulthood is possible [Murdock et al 2019]. Data on possible progression of behavior abnormalities or neurologic findings are still limited. Since many adults with DD or ID issues have not undergone advanced genetic or genomic testing, it is likely that adults with this condition are underrecognized and underreported.