Clinical Description
Neonatal period. Some children with 3-M syndrome present in the neonatal period with feeding difficulties requiring early feeding support [Hu et al 2017]. A small proportion of infants suffer from significant respiratory distress and/or recurrent respiratory tract infections in early life that can be life threatening [Deeb et al 2015]. This is more common in the Yakut population, in which 41% of affected infants had asphyxia and respiratory distress at birth and 25.6% required mechanical ventilation [Maksimova et al 2007].
Growth deficiency. The most striking feature of 3-M syndrome is severe intrauterine growth restriction. Birth length is 40-42 cm, whereas the head size is normal for gestational age. Catch-up growth does not occur; final height is five to six standard deviations below the mean for age and sex [van der Wal et al 2001, Tüysüz et al 2021, Akalın et al 2024], resulting in proportionate short stature.
Most children with 3-M syndrome are evaluated for growth hormone (GH) deficiency. A small proportion are found to have partial or significant GH deficiency [van der Wal et al 2001, Clayton et al 2012, Deeb et al 2015, Karacan Küçükali et al 2023, Akalın et al 2024]. A growing number of children have also been found to have GH insensitivity demonstrated by failure of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) generation [Akalın et al 2024]. Treatment with GH has shown variable results, with a good response in some individuals and poor response in others. Recombinant human IGF-1 therapy has been tried in one individual with CUL7-related 3-M syndrome with a poor response and significant side effects [Yang & Patni 2020]. Given the varying response to treatment, a trial of GH therapy with close monitoring of growth velocity and measurement of serum IGF-1 levels should be considered [Clayton et al 2012, Deeb et al 2015, Karacan Küçükali et al 2023, Akalın et al 2024].
Facial features. Infants with 3-M syndrome have a relatively large head, dolichocephaly, triangular face, midface retrusion, thick eyebrows, fleshy nasal tip, long philtrum, thick vermilion of the upper and low lips, pointed chin, nevus simplex, and infraorbital fullness [Hu et al 2017, Tüysüz et al 2021]. Facial appearance varies among affected individuals [van der Wal et al 2001, Marik et al 2002] and changes over time, with the triangular face, long philtrum, and pointed chin becoming more pronounced, and loss of the nevus simplex and infraorbital fullness.
Musculoskeletal features present by early childhood and variably include short, broad neck, prominent trapezii, pectus carinatum/excavatum, short thorax, square shoulders, winged scapulae, thoracic kyphoscoliosis, and hyperlordosis. Spina bifida occulta, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers, transverse palmar crease, generalized or distal joint hypermobility, prominent heels, and pes planus are reported. Developmental dysplasia of the hips has been reported with delayed diagnosis [Badina et al 2011]. Bilateral congenital hip dislocation has been reported in other individuals [Khachnaoui-Zaafrane et al 2022]. Transverse grooves in the lower rib cage have been reported [Hu et al 2017, Tüysüz et al 2021].
Radiographic features
The
long bones are slender with diaphyseal constriction and flared metaphyses; these appear to be the main radiologic features of 3-M syndrome. Increased radiolucency is unusual [
van der Wal et al 2001]. The metacarpal index, used to document slender long bones, is usually high.
The vertebral bodies are tall with reduced anterior-posterior and transverse diameter, especially in the lumbar region. Reduced anterior-posterior diameter of the vertebral bodies becomes more apparent with increasing age. Calculation of the vertebral index at different ages reveals that the vertebral index of L1 is a useful tool to document 3-M syndrome, although tall vertebrae are a nonspecific finding that may be secondary to scoliosis or hypotonia. Anterior wedging of thoracic vertebral bodies, irregular upper and lower end plates, thoracic kyphoscoliosis, and spina bifida occulta are also features of 3-M syndrome.
Thorax is broad with slender and horizontal ribs.
Pelvic bones are small, especially the pubis and the ischium. The iliac wings are flared, and the obturator foramina are small, although the latter may be positional.
Bone age can be slightly delayed but has been reported to be normal in some individuals [
Hu et al 2017].
Other
findings include dolichocephaly, flattened coronal suture, elbow dysplasia, shortened ulna, pseudoepiphyses of the second metacarpal bone, clinodactyly of the fifth fingers, dislocated hips, and prominent talus.
Genitourinary anomalies in males may include gonadal dysfunction and subfertility or infertility as documented by high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, low testicular volume, and abnormal semen analysis [van der Wal et al 2001]. Hypospadias has been seen in a few males with 3-M syndrome. Note: Female gonadal function appears normal.
Other. Aortic root dilatation has been reported in two sibs with 3-M syndrome [Akalın et al 2024].