3q29 microdeletion syndrome

3q29 microdeletion syndrome is a rare genetic disorder resulting from the deletion of a segment of chromosome 3. This syndrome was first described in 2005.

Presentation
The clinical phenotype of 3q29 microdeletion syndrome is variable. Clinical features can include mild to moderate intellectual disability with mildly dysmorphic facial features (long and narrow face, short philtrum and a high nasal bridge). Of the 6 reported patients, additional features including autism, ataxia, chest-wall deformity and long, tapering fingers were found in at least two patients. A review of 14 children with interstitial deletions of 3q29, found 11 who had the common recurrent 1.6Mb deletion and displayed intellectual disability and microcephaly.

The variability of phenotype is underscored by the report on a 6 and 9/12-year-old male patient with a de novo chromosome 3q29 microdeletion identified by BAC array comparative genomic hybridization assay (aCGH), with accompanying normal 46,XY high-resolution chromosome analysis. The patient has language-based learning disabilities and behavioral features consistent with diagnoses of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) of the inattentive type. He also displays some other features previously associated with chromosome 3q29 microdeletion such as an elongated face, long fingers, and joint laxity. Most notably the patient, per formal IQ testing, did not have an intellectual disability. The patient demonstrated an average full-scale IQ result. This is notable because previously reported patients with chromosome 3q29 terminal deletion had intellectual disabilities. This report further expands the phenotypic spectrum to include the possibility of normal intelligence as corroborated by formal, longitudinal psycho-educational testing.

Research
Research on the risk for developing schizophrenia in Ashkenazi Jews and other populations showed that 3q29 microdeletion syndrome leads to a significant higher rate of schizophrenia. In addition, a deletion at 3q29 was found to confer an increase to the odds of developing schizophrenia in a study of copy number variants and their effect on that disorder.