Velocardiofacial syndrome

Velocardiofacial syndrome is the most common syndrome associated with a cleft palate.

What is velocardiofacial syndrome?

Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic condition that is sometimes hereditary. VCFS is characterized by a combination of medical problems that vary from child to child. These medical problems include: cleft palate, or an opening in the roof of the mouth, and other differences in the palate; heart defects; problems fighting infection; low calcium levels; differences in the way the kidneys are formed or work; a characteristic facial appearance; learning problems; and speech and feeding problems.

The name velocardiofacial syndrome comes from the Latin words 'velum' meaning palate, "cardia" meaning heart and "facies" having to do with the face. Not all of these identifying features are found in each child who is born with VCFS. The most common features are palatal differences (~75 percent), heart defects (75 percent), problems fighting infection (77 percent), low calcium levels (50 percent), differences in the kidney (35 percent), characteristic facial appearance (numbers vary depending on the individual's ethnic and racial background), learning problems (~90 percent) and speech (~75 percent) and feeding problems (35 percent).

Two genes - COMT and TBX1 - are associated with VCFS. However, not all of the genes that cause VCFS have been identified. Most children who have been diagnosed with this syndrome are missing a small part of chromosome 22. Chromosomes are threadlike structures found in every cell of the body. Each chromosome contains hundreds of genes. A human cell normally contains 46 chromosomes (23 from each parent). The specific location or address of the missing segment in individuals with VCFS is 22q11.2.

VCFS is also called the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. It also has other clinical names such as DiGeorge syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome (CTAF), autosomal dominant Opitz G/BBB syndrome or Cayler cardiofacial syndrome. As a result of this deletion, about 30 genes are generally absent from this chromosome.

VCFS affects about 1 in 4,000 newborns. VCFS may affect more individuals, however, because some people who have the 22q11.2 deletion may not be diagnosed as they have very few signs and symptoms.

What are the symptoms of VCFS?

Despite the involvement of a very specific portion of chromosome 22, there is great variation in the symptoms of this syndrome. At least 30 different symptoms have been associated with the 22q11 deletion. Most of these symptoms are not present in all individuals who have VCFS.

Symptoms include: cleft palate, usually of the soft palate (the roof of the mouth nearest the throat which is behind the bony palate); heart problems; similar faces (elongated face, almond-shaped eyes, wide nose, small ears); eye problems; feeding problems that include food coming through the nose (nasal regurgitation) because of the palatal differences; middle-ear infections (otitis media); low calcium due to hypoparathyroidism (low levels of the parathyroid hormone that can result in seizures); immune system problems which make it difficult for the body to fight infections; differences in the way the kidneys are formed or how they work; weak muscles; differences in the spine such as curvature of the spine (scoliosis) or bony abnormalities in the neck or upper back; and tapered fingers. Children are born with these features.

Children who have VCFS also often have learning difficulties and developmental delays. About 65 percent of individuals with the 22q11.2 deletion are found to have a non-verbal learning disability. When tested, their verbal IQ scores are greater than 10 points higher than their performance IQ scores. This combination of test scores brings down the full scale IQ scores but they won't represent the abilities of the individual accurately. As a result of this type of learning disability, students will have relative strengths in reading and rote memorization but will struggle with math and abstract reasoning. These individuals may also have communication and social interaction problems such as autism. As adults, these individuals have an increased risk for developing mental illness such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

How is VCFS diagnosed?

VCFS is suspected as a diagnosis based on clinical examination and the presence of the signs and symptoms of the syndrome.

A special blood test called FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) is then done to look for the deletion in chromosome 22q11.2. More than 95 percent of individuals who have VCFS have a deletion in chromosome 22q11.2.

Those individuals who do not have the 22q11.2 deletion by standard FISH testing may have a smaller deletion that may only be found using more sophisticated lab studies such as comparative genomic hybridization, MLPA, additional FISH studies performed in a research laboratory or using specific gene studies to look for mutations in the genes known to be in this region. Again, these studies may only be available through a research lab.

What is the treatment for VCFS?

Treatment is based on the type of symptoms that are present. For example, heart defects are treated as they would normally be via surgical interventions in the newborn period. Individuals who have low calcium levels are given calcium supplements and frequently vitamin D to help them absorb the calcium. Palate problems are treated by a team of specialists called a cleft palate or craniofacial team and again often require surgical interventions and intensive speech therapy. Infections are generally treated aggressively with antibiotics in infants and children with immune problems.

Early intervention and speech therapies are started when possible at one year of age to assess and treat developmental delays.

Is VCFS inherited?

VCFS is due to a 22q11.2 deletion. Most often neither parent has the deletion and so it is new in the child (93 percent) and the chance for the couple to have another child with VCFS is quite low (close to zero). However, once the deletion is present in a person he or she has a 50 percent chance for having children who also have the deletion. The 22q11 deletion happens as an accident when either the egg or sperm are being formed or early in fetal development.

In less than 10 percent of cases, a person with VCFS inherits the deletion in chromosome 22 from a parent. When VCFS is inherited in families, this means that other family members may be affected as well.

Since some people with the 22q11.2 deletion are very mildly affected, it is suggested that all parents of children with the deletion have testing. Furthermore, some people with the deletion have no symptoms but they have the deletion in some of their cells but not all. This is called mosaicism. Even other people have the deletion only in their egg cells or sperm cells but not in their blood cells. It is recommended that all parents of a child with a 22q11.2 deletion seek genetic counseling before or during a subsequent pregnancy to learn more about their chances of having another child with VCFS.

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