Phenotypic Spectrum of GNA11 R183C Mosaicism

Many vascular anomalies harbor postzygotic somatic variants in GNAQ and GNA11; however, the phenotype of specific G-protein variants has not been well described. We report the clinical characteristics of 17 patients with a GNA11 R183C variant.

This case series is derived from a multinational cohort of vascular anomaly patients whose pathogenic mutations were identified using high-depth next generation sequencing. Data include vascular anomaly features, imaging reports, and extracutaneous manifestations of the GNA11 R183C variant.

We identified 17 subjects (median age 18 years [range 6-67]) with somatic GNA11 R183C variant. All patients had vascular lesions of the skin that presented as pink-to-red in children and deeper red in adults. Most lesions were large, poorly demarcated, and reticulated patches that were often bilaterally distributed. Nevus anemicus was observed in 53% (N = 9) and dermal melanocytosis in 13.3% (N = 2) of individuals. 82% (N = 14) of patients had limb growth discrepancies, and 1 patient had marked thoracic hypoplasia. 47% (N = 8) of patients had facial involvement, and 41% (N = 7) had forehead involvement. One patient experienced seizures due to right hemispheric leptomeningeal angiomatosis consistent with Sturge-Weber syndrome. Other findings included glaucoma (29%, N = 5) and psychomotor delay (29%, N = 5).

These findings contribute to our understanding of the clinical spectrum of GNA11 R183C capillary malformations (CMs); patients characteristically present with extensive, bilateral, poorly demarcated, pink-to-red CMs associated with nevus anemicus. Glaucoma and growth discrepancies (overgrowth or undergrowth) are common. Leptomeningeal angiomatosis and developmental delay can occur, appearing potentially less prevalent and severe than GNAQ-associated disease.