First-trimester prenatal diagnosis of Crouzon syndrome

Crouzon syndrome, one of the best known of many craniofacial syndromes, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by craniosynostosis, prominent eyes, and midfacial hypoplasia due to abnormal development and premature fusion of the skull. Recently mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene (FGFR2) were found to cause Crouzon. We have identified the recurrent mutation C342Y in two unrelated patients with Crouzon syndrome. One patient (A) belongs to a family in which Crouzon could be followed in three generations, while the other patient (B) represents a sporadic case. The identification of the disease-causing mutation allowed first-trimester prenatal diagnosis as requested by both patients in their subsequent pregnancies. A chorionic villus biopsy was performed in the 11th gestational week of patient A's pregnancy. DNA isolated from the biopsy revealed a fetus heterozygous for the C342Y mutation, i.e., having Crouzon syndrome. The pregnancy was terminated and the molecular diagnosis was confirmed later by analysis of fetal and placental tissue. Patient B had a missed abortion before the scheduled chorionic villus biopsy was performed. Mutation analysis of the aborted fetal tissue did not show the C342Y mutation.