Spectrum of holoprosencephaly
Seema Thakur1, Renu Singh, M Pradhan
1Department of Medical Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Insights
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) often presents antenatally or at birth with characteristic facial anomalies. Genetic and clinical evaluation is crucial for recurrence risk assessment in families.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a complex congenital brain malformation.
- Early detection and accurate diagnosis are critical for management and genetic counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a clinical study of holoprosencephaly (HPE).
- To analyze clinical features, family history, and diagnostic findings in HPE cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of thirteen HPE cases.
- Analysis of clinical presentations, family history, prenatal ultrasound, neuroimaging, and chromosomal analysis.
Main Results:
- Six HPE cases detected antenatally via ultrasound; four were stillborn.
- Facial anomalies were present in eleven cases; two had subtle features and microcephaly.
- Abnormal karyotypes were found in 2 of 7 analyzed cases.
Conclusions:
- HPE frequently presents antenatally or at birth, with milder forms potentially diagnosed later due to developmental delay.
- Characteristic facial anomalies are common in HPE.
- Chromosomal studies and parental examination are vital for assessing recurrence risks.
Objective:
To conduct a clinical study of holoprosencephaly (HPE).
Method:
Thirteen cases of HPE were studied regarding their clinical features, family history, and prenatal and imaging studies. Chromosomal analysis was done whenever fresh sample was available.
Results:
Six cases were antenatally detected by ultrasound; four cases were stillborn. Three cases were identified by neuroimaging done a part of evaluation of developmental delay or cleft lip. Eleven of them had facial anomalies characteristics of HPE. Two of these had subtle facial features and microcephaly. Karyotype was abnormal in 2 of 7 cases studied.
Conclusion:
Most of the cases of HPE present antenatally or at birth. Milder forms like lobar and semilobar can present as developmental delay during infancy. Facial anomalies are usually associated with HPE. Chromosomal study of the case and clinical examination of the parents is essential for providing information regarding risk of recurrence to the family.
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