Features of Turner syndrome among a group of Cameroonian patients
Ambroise Wonkam1, Sandra W Veigne2, Ali Abass2
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Objective:
To describe the features of Turner syndrome among a group of Cameroonian patients.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with amenorrhea and/or short stature who attended the genetic unit of Yaoundé Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital (Yaoundé, Cameroon) for a specialist consultation between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2008. Sociodemographic, clinical, and cytogenetic data were collected.
Results:
Turner syndrome was confirmed among 11 of the 14 participants (seven had monosomy of the X chromosome; four had mosaicism involving a structural abnormality of the second X chromosome). The mean age at diagnosis was 18.4±2.8years. The reasons for consultation were delayed puberty (n=10) and short stature (n=1). Nine patients had a short neck, nine had a forearm carrying-angle deformity, eight had a low hairline, and two had a webbed neck. Abdominal ultrasonography identified a horseshoe kidney in two patients and a rudimentary uterus in nine patients. None of the patients displayed cardiac abnormalities. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was reported among five patients. Eight patients did not receive hormonal treatment owing to advanced bone age or economic reasons.
Conclusion:
Late diagnosis and variable phenotypic expression were key features of Cameroonian patients with Turner syndrome.
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