CRELD1-Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorder: Three New Individuals from Unrelated Families

Background:CRELD1 encodes a cell adhesion molecule initially implicated in atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs). More recently, biallelic CRELD1 variants have been associated with syndromic and non-syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Methods: We describe three individuals from unrelated families with compound heterozygous CRELD1 variants, identified through exome sequencing. Clinical and genetic data were reviewed to delineate shared and divergent features. Results: All three patients presented with developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, hypotonia, and dysmorphic facial features. Patient 1 and patient 2 carried a recurrent variant combination previously reported in five individuals, while Patient 3 harboured the recurrent frameshift p.(Gln320Argfs*25) variant in trans with a novel missense variant. The milder clinical course of patient 3 highlights phenotypic heterogeneity. Notably, none of the patients had cardiac anomalies or immunological abnormalities, further expanding the clinical spectrum associated with CRELD1. Conclusion: Our findings reinforce genotype-phenotype correlations and provide additional evidence that biallelic CRELD1 variants underlie a distinct autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder, broadening both the phenotypic and genetic spectrum of this emerging syndrome.