Trisomy 18 is a chromosomal syndrome characterized by a broad clinical picture, as well as a very reserved prognosis. The aim of our study was to verify the clinical characteristics and survival of patients diagnosed in a referral hospital in southern Brazil. Our sample consisted of 31 patients, 22 were female (71%), ages ranging from 1 to 1,395 days (median 14 days). The majority had a single cell lineage with full trisomy of chromosome 18 (94%). Concerning pregnancy complications, pre-eclampsia was the main abnormality described (17%). Fetal ultrasound was performed in 23 cases, and the most frequent abnormalities were polyhydramnios (41%) and intrauterine growth retardation (27%). There were no reports of prenatal identification of the syndrome. Most patients were born by cesarean due to pregnancy and fetal complications and about half of the cases were premature. Congenital heart defects represented the main major malformation observed (94%). Thirty patients (97%) progressed to death (survival ranged from 2 to 780 days, and 87% died within the first 6 months of life). Trisomy 18 is a serious chromosomal disorder with limited survival. Abnormalities of pregnancy appear to be frequent, which can lead to complications for both fetus and mother. The prenatal identification of these patients in our country is still inadequate, resulting in important implications for genetic counseling and management of these patients and their families. And this makes the possibility of interruption of pregnancy, regardless of ethical factors involved, an unlikely option.

Trisomy 13 or Patau syndrome (PS) is a chromosomal disorder characterized by a well known presentation of multiple congenital anomalies. Our objective was to determine the clinical features and prognosis observed in a sample of patients with PS. The series was composed of patients with diagnosis of PS consecutively evaluated by a Clinical Genetics Service from a reference hospital of southern Brazil, in the period between 1975 and 2012. Statistical analysis was performed using PEPI program (version 4.0), with two-tailed Fisher's exact test for comparison of frequencies (P<0.05). The sample consisted of 30 patients, 60% male, median age at first evaluation of 9 days. Full trisomy of chromosome 13 was the main cytogenetic alteration (73%). The major clinical findings included: cryptorchidism (78%), abnormal auricles (77%), congenital heart defects (76%), polydactyly (63%), microphthalmia (60%) and micrognathia (50%). Four patients (13%) simultaneously had micro/anophthalmia, oral clefts and polydactyly. Some findings were only observed in our sample and included, among others, preauricular tags (10%), duplication of the hallux (3%) and spots following the lines of Blaschko (3%). Mosaicism (20% of cases) had a statistically significant association only with absence of cryptorchidism. The median of survival was 26 days. Patients with and without mosaicism had similar median of survival. Our findings, in agreement with the literature, show that the anomalies in patients with PS can be quite variable, sometimes even atypical. There is no pathognomonic finding, which may make the early identification of these patients challenging.

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Warfarin is a synthetic oral anticoagulant that crosses the placenta and can lead to a number of congenital abnormalities known as fetal warfarin syndrome. Our aim is to report on the follow-up from birth to age 8 years of a patient with fetal warfarin syndrome. He presented significant respiratory dysfunction, as well as dental and speech and language complications. The patient was the second child of a mother who took warfarin during pregnancy due to a metallic heart valve. The patient had respiratory dysfunction at birth. On physical examination, he had a hypoplastic nose, pectus excavatum, and clubbing of the fingers. Nasal fibrobronchoscopy showed upper airway obstruction due to narrowing of the nasal cavities. He underwent surgical correction with Max Pereira graft, zetaplasty, and osteotomies for the piriform aperture. At dental evaluation, he had caries and delayed eruption of the upper incisors. Speech and language assessment revealed high palate, mouth breathing, little nasal patency, and shortened upper lip. Auditory long latency and cognitive-related potential to auditory stimuli demonstrated functional changes in the cortical auditory pathways. We believe that the frequency of certain findings observed in our patient may be higher in fetal warfarin syndrome than is appreciated, since a significant number result in abortions, stillbirths, or children evaluated in the first year of life without a follow-up. Thus, a multidisciplinary approach and long-term monitoring of these patients may be necessary.

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