Herein the first molecular diagnosis of a Brazilian child with Shwachman-Diamond
Syndrome is reported. A 6-year-old boy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age
of 15 months due to recurrent respiratory infections, diarrhea and therapeutic
response to pancreatic enzymes. Three sweat tests were negative. At the age of 5
years, he began to experience pain in the lower limbs, laxity of joints, lameness and
frequent falls. A radiological study revealed metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. A
complete blood cell count showed leukopenia (leukocytes: 3.1-3.5 x
103/µL), neutropenia (segmented neutrophils: 15-22%), but normal
hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count. A molecular study revealed biallelic
mutations in the Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond Syndrome gene (183-184TA-CT K62X in exon 2
and a 258+2T-C transition) confirming the diagnosis of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. A
non-pathologic, silent nucleotide A to G transition at position 201 was also found in
heterozygosis in the Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond Syndrome gene. This is the first report
to describe a Brazilian child with molecular diagnosis of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome,
a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency, intermittent or persistent neutropenia and skeletal changes. Other
characteristics include immune system, hepatic and cardiac changes and predisposition
to leukemia. Recurrent bacterial, viral and fungal infections are common. The
possibility of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome should be kept in mind when investigating
children with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and normal sweat tests.