Genotype-phenotype correlation over time in Angelman syndrome: Researching 134 patients

Abstract

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss of function of maternal UBE3A. The major cause of AS is a maternal deletion in 15q11.2-q13 and the minor causes are a UBE3A mutation, uniparental disomy (UPD) and imprinting defect (ID). Previous reports suggest that all patients with AS exhibit developmental delay, movement or balance disorders, behavioral characteristics and speech impairment. In contrast, a substantial number of AS patients with a UBE3A mutation, UPD or ID were reported not to show these consistent features and to show age dependent change of their features. In this study, we investigated 134 patients with AS, including 57 patients with a UBE3A mutation and 48 patients with UPD or ID. Although developmental delay was present in all patients, 20% of patients with AS caused by UPD or ID did not exhibit movement or balance disorders. Differences were also seen in hypopigmentation and seizures, depending on the causes. Moreover, patients with a UBE3A mutation, UPD or ID tended to show fewer of the specific phenotypes depending on their age. Especially, in patients with UPD or ID, easily-provoked laughter and hyperactivity tended to become more pronounced as they aged. Therefore, the clinical features of AS based on cause and age should be understood and genetic testing should not be limited to patients with the typical clinical features of AS.