Hall-Riggs syndrome

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Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Hall-Riggs syndrome
Synonyms	Hall-Riggs dysplasia
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	Medical genetics
Symptoms	Short stature, skeletal dysplasia, joint laxity
Complications	N/A
Onset	Childhood
Duration	Lifelong
Types	N/A
Causes	Genetic mutation
Risks	Family history
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, genetic testing
Differential diagnosis	Achondroplasia, hypochondroplasia
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Supportive care, physical therapy
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Hall-Riggs syndrome is a very rare syndrome consisting of microcephaly with facial dysmorphism, spondylometaepiphyseal dysplasia and severe intellectual deficit.

Epidemiology

Eight cases have been reported in the literature in two unrelated families.

Inheritance

The condition is probably hereditary, and transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait.

Signs and symptoms

Dysmorphic features include hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, large nose with a large nasal tip, anteverted nostrils and wide mouth with thick lips. Affected patients do not achieve language ability. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. 80%-99% of people have these symptoms

• Absent speech(Absent speech development)
• Anteverted nares(Nasal tip, upturned)
• Epicanthus(Eye folds)
• Intellectual disability, severe(Early and severe mental retardation)
• Microcephaly(Abnormally small skull)
• Severe global developmental delay
• Short stature(Decreased body height)
• Thick vermilion border(Full lips)
• Wide nasal bridge(Broad nasal bridge)

30%-79% of people have these symptoms

• Abnormality of epiphysis morphology(Abnormal shape of end part of bone)
• Abnormality of the metaphysis(Abnormality of the wide portion of a long bone)
• Brachydactyly(Short fingers or toes)
• Coarse hair(Coarse hair texture)
• Delayed skeletal maturation(Delayed bone maturation)
• Downturned corners of mouth(Downturned corners of the mouth)
• Failure to thrive(Faltering weight)
• Hypertelorism(Wide-set eyes)
• Limb undergrowth(limb shortening)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Platyspondyly(Flattened vertebrae)
• Prominent nose(Big nose)
• Scoliosis
• Seizure
• Slow-growing hair(Slow growing hair)
• Thick hair(Increased hair density)
• Wide mouth(Broad mouth)

5%-29% of people have these symptoms

• Abnormality of dental enamel(Abnormal tooth enamel)
• Delayed eruption of teeth(Delayed eruption)
• Joint stiffness(Stiff joint)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Hall-Riggs syndrome is typically based on clinical evaluation, detailed patient history, and characteristic physical findings. Key diagnostic features include:

• Microcephaly' (reduced head circumference) - Distinctive facial dysmorphisms such as: Prominent forehead Flattened nasal bridge Small, malformed ears Downslanting palpebral fissures
• Radiographic findings indicative of spondylometaepiphyseal dysplasia, such as abnormalities in the spine, long bones, and joints, identified via X-rays.
• Comprehensive assessment of developmental and intellectual capacities confirming significant cognitive impairment.
• Genetic testing may be considered to exclude other genetic syndromes presenting with similar features. Consultation with clinical geneticists and radiologists may be beneficial for confirmation.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for Hall-Riggs syndrome, and management focuses primarily on symptomatic treatment and supportive care. Treatment strategies include:

• Orthopedic care: Management of skeletal dysplasia through orthopedic interventions, including physical therapy, orthopedic devices, or surgical procedures to improve mobility and reduce complications.
• Neurological and cognitive support: Early developmental intervention programs, special education services, occupational and speech therapy tailored to individual needs.
• Medical management of comorbidities: Regular monitoring and intervention for associated medical conditions, such as seizures or respiratory difficulties, by multidisciplinary medical teams.
• Psychosocial support: Psychological counseling and social support services to assist families in coping with the challenges of caring for individuals with this condition.

A multidisciplinary approach involving pediatricians, geneticists, orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and developmental specialists is essential for comprehensive patient care.

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Hall-Riggs syndrome

Hall-Riggs syndrome is a rare disease.

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