Isolated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency (IGD) is characterized by inappropriately low serum concentrations of the gonadotropins LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) in the presence of low circulating concentrations of sex steroids. IGD is associated with a normal sense of smell (normosmic IGD) in approximately 40% of affected individuals and an impaired sense of smell (Kallmann syndrome) in approximately 60%. IGD can first become apparent in infancy, adolescence, or adulthood. Infant boys with congenital IGD often have micropenis and cryptorchidism. Adolescents and adults with IGD have clinical evidence of hypogonadism and incomplete sexual maturation on physical examination. Adult males with IGD tend to have prepubertal testicular volume (i.e., <4 mL), absence of secondary sexual features (e.g., facial and axillary hair growth, deepening of the voice), decreased muscle mass, diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. Adult females have little or no breast development and primary amenorrhea. Although skeletal maturation is delayed, the rate of linear growth is usually normal except for the absence of a distinct pubertal growth spurt.

Snijders Blok-Fisher syndrome (SNIBFIS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay, hypotonia, variable impaired intellectual development, and specifically impaired speech and language acquisition. Patients achieve independent ambulation and most have mildly to moderately impaired cognition with autistic features, although a few may develop seizures and have a more severe phenotype. Dysmorphic features include abnormal, cupped, or prominent ears and ocular anomalies. Mutations usually occur de novo, although 1 family with autosomal dominant inheritance has been reported (summary by Snijders Blok et al., 2019).

Diencephalic-mesencephalic junction dysplasia syndrome-2 (DMJDS2) is an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay and hypotonia apparent from infancy. Affected individuals develop severe progressive hyperkinetic movements, including spastic tetraplegia, dystonia, and bulbar dysphagia necessitating tube feeding. Patients are unable to walk and have severely impaired intellectual development with absent speech. Brain imaging shows a unique malformation reflecting abnormal embryonic development of the diencephalic-mesencephalic junction (DMJ), with agenesis of the basal ganglia and olfactory bulb, hypoplasia of the thalamus, and abnormal course of the corticospinal tracts (summary by De Mori et al., 2019). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of DMJDS, see DMJDS1 (251280).