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Interpretive Handbook

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Test 88536:
Cri-du-chat Syndrome, 5p15.2 Deletion, FISH

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Cri-du-chat syndrome is associated with a deletion on the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p-). The syndrome can be suspected in infants with a plaintive, mewing cry, low birth weight, and failure to thrive. The weak kittenlike cry that gives name to the syndrome is at least partly due to anatomic abnormalities of the larynx and although the cry changes with time, it does not become normal. Facial features include microcephaly, round face, low-set ears, strabismus, hypertelorism (wide-set eyes), and epicanthus (a vertical fold of skin on either side of the nose). The hands and feet are small, and the hands often have a single crease extending across the palm (simian crease). With age, premature gray hair, dental malocclusion, inguinal hernia, distasis recti, (a separation of the left and right side of the rectus abdominis muscle), and scoliosis are common. Affected individuals’ intelligence varies widely from mild-to-severe mental retardation.

                     

FISH studies are highly specific and do not exclude other chromosome abnormalities. We recommend that patients suspected of having cri-du-chat syndrome also have conventional chromosome studies (CMS/8696 Chromosomes Analysis, for Congenital Disorders, Blood) performed to rule out other chromosome abnormalities or translocations.

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

As an aid in the diagnosis of cri-du-chat syndrome, in conjunction with CMS/8696 Chromosome Analysis, For Congenital Disorders, Blood

 

Detecting cryptic translocations involving 5p15.2 that are not demonstrated by conventional chromosome studies

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Any individual with a normal signal pattern (2 signals) in each metaphase is considered negative for a deletion in the region tested by this probe (see Cautions).

 

Any patient with a FISH signal pattern indicating loss of the critical region will be reported as having a deletion of the region tested by this probe.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Because this FISH test is not approved by the FDA, it is important to confirm cri-du-chat syndrome diagnoses by other established methods, such as clinical history or physical evaluation.

 

Additional critical genes associated with cri-du-chat syndrome may lie distal to the loci in this probe set, and this test may give normal results if a microdeletion occurs outside the region tested by this probe. If this test is normal and the patient’s phenotype is consistent with cri-du-chat syndrome, subtelometric FISH analysis may be warranted (FRTEL/82583 Subtelomeric Region Anomalies, FISH).

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

An interpretive report will be provided.

Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Van Dyke DL, Witkor A: Clinical cytogenetics. In Laboratory Medicine. 2nd edition. Edited by K McClatchey. Baltimore, MD. Williams & Wilkins, 2002, Chapter 26

2. Jones K: Deletion 5p syndrome. In Smith’s Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation. 6th edition. Philadelphia, Elsevier Saunders, 2005

3. Mainardi PC, Perfumo C, Cali A, et al: Clinical and molecular charcterisation of 80 patients with 5p deletion: genotype-phenotype correlation. J Med Genet 2001;38:151-158