| A contiguous gene syndrome with characteristics of the association of congenital spherocytosis, dysmorphic features, growth delay and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. It has been described in 8 patients to date. Common dysmorphic features include micrognathia, microcephaly, preauricular pits, high-arched palate and abnormal ears. All patients except one have intellectual deficit. The syndrome is caused by deletions of the proximal part of the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p11.1 to 8p21). The deletions can be cytogenetically detected and their size is variable. The loss of the ankyrin-1 gene (ANK1) results in congenital spherocytosis. |
