We have learned that  germline mutations of human ASXL1 is the cause of Bohring-Opitz  syndrome (BOS). Germline means its a novo ASXL1 mutation, the gene mutates at conception, creating a developmental disorder that leads to BOS. Patients with somatic ASXL1 mutation (the mutation formed during later life) have an increased risk of myelodysplasia (MDS), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), forms of blood cancer.

Karen Seiter and colleges present a father and son who have a identical mutation of ASXL1 with the inference that these cases support the diagnosis of a germline mutation of ASXL1. Interestingly this specific mutation has been reported in one case of Bohring-Opitz syndrome. Both, father and son have developed myelodysplasia to myeloid leukemia but have no Bohring-Opitz Syndrome.

» Read here the article of Karen Seiter and colleges: “Acute myeloid leukemia in a father and son with a germline mutation of ASXL1″ (Biomarker Research 20186:7, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40364-018-0121-3)

Exciting news from the ASXL Registry! Out of 33 families who have completed the  enrolment, 15 surveys are completed! To obtain accurate knowledge about causes, symptoms, quality of life and treatments for Bohring-Opitz Syndrome, it is important that more families enrol the ASXL Registry and we need your support. A well run registry helps produce scientific literature and leads to research findings which is crucial to help our children live a better life.

Do you want to be part of the ASXL Registry? Please follow these steps:

• Step 1: Email ASXLRegistry@cchmc.org
• Step 2: 15-30 minute phone call to review the consent form and answer questions
• Step 3: Sign consent form and send it back.

More information you can find in the first newsletter of the ASXL Registry!

Thank you!

KULUUT, the documentary about Coen and his family finding happiness despite of living with a syndrome, can now be seen worldwide. Until now it was broadcasted just for the Dutch public, but now we all can enjoy this beautiful and eagerly awaited documentary worldwide! Coen has the rare Bohring-Opitz Syndrome and we, the BOS Family are extremely grateful that Charlotte Driessen made this film possible. Kuluut has won international attention and received several film awards. The documentary won a Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards Award in the category of First Time Filmmaker, after that it won a Kudos Endeavor Award in the Docs Without Borders Film Festival competition and was also an official selection as a semi finalist in the Atlanta DocuFest.

Our thanks go out to the makers of KULUT and the wonderful family of Coen!

Merry Christmas!

Kuluut – English subtitles from Charlotte Driessen on Vimeo.

Researchers have expanded the clinical spectrum of KLHL7 […] by describing a syndrome with features overlapping CS/CISS1 (Crisponi syndrome/cold-induced sweating syndrome type 1) and Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (BOS). At six patients with microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, including exophthalmos, nevus flammeus of the glabella and joint contractures with a suspected BOS posture in five out of six patients they found with whole-exome sequencing (WES) mutations in the KLHL7 gene.

Prior to 2011, geneticists relied on making a clinical diagnosis by recognizing the distinguishable physical characteristics in the appearance of their patients. In 2011, researchers at the Radboud University Nijmegen medical centre discovered one genetic cause of Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. They found that seven of 13 examined patients with the BOS phenotype had the novo mutation in the ASXL1 gene. However another six children with clinical diagnosis of BOS didn’t have this mutation, this indicates that other genes may be involved in this syndrome suggesting clinical and genetic heterogeneity, meaning there must be at least one other cause of BOS.

Our best chance to help individuals who are affected by Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (BOS) is a registry that will collect important information about raising a child with BOS and their medical history and build a resource for a better understanding of this rare disease for patients, caregivers as well for medical professionals.

The amount knowledge started small, with just four patients presented by Axel Bohring in 1999. Over the years, more and more cases were presented and our BOS Family is still growing.

The BOS & ASXL REGISTRY is here! We need your help in building such a resource and encourage you to become part of the “Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (BOS) & ASXL related Registry”. This registry, created by Dr. Bianca Russell and Dr. Wen-Hann Tan, is a milestone in the history of Bohring-Opitz Syndrome and the more people registered, the more valid and valuable the information becomes, which will result in a significant step in improving the lives of people affected with Bohring-Opitz Syndrome.

»Learn more about the registry!

Thank you for considering having your child or BOS-Angel join the registry. Your participation makes the difference!

A large proportion of patients diagnosed with Bohring-Opitz Syndrome have a mutation in the ASXL1 gene. This case is different. Although the three-year-old girl from Malaysia showed different characteristics or Bohring-Opitz Syndrome, genetic analysis showed a 46xx – Bohring Opitz Syndrome overlapped with C syndrome.

» Read here the Case Report: Bohring-Opitz Syndrome – a case of rare genetic disorder by Nithiya Visayaragawan, Narentharen Selvarajah, Hema Apparau, Valuyeetham Kamaru Ambu, of the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, Seremban.

A new publication in the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) by Jennifer M. Kalish and colleagues about uniform tumor screening recommendations for rare syndromes with increased risk for Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma and other embryonal tumors like Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. “In the 43 cases reported by Russell and colleagues (2015), two patients developed WT and one had nephroblastomatosis leading to a renal neoplasm incidence of 7%. The small number of reported patients with BOS and high infant mortality rate indicates that the true cancer risk may be higher than reported.” (Kalish, 2017)

Abstract:

“A number of genetic syndromes [as is the case here among other syndromes, the Bohring Opitz Syndrome has been described] have been linked to increased risk for Wilms tumor (WT), hepatoblastoma (HB), and other embryonal tumors. Here, we outline these rare syndromes with at least a 1% risk to develop these tumors and recommend uniform tumor screening recommendations for North America. Specifically, for syndromes with increased risk for WT, we recommend renal ultrasounds every 3 months from birth (or the time of diagnosis) through the seventh birthday. For HB, we recommend screening with full abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein serum measurements every 3 months from birth (or the time of diagnosis) through the fourth birthday. We recommend that when possible, these patients be evaluated and monitored by cancer predisposition specialists. At this time, these recommendations are not based on the differential risk between different genetic or epigenetic causes for each syndrome, which some European centers have implemented. This differentiated approach largely represents distinct practice environments between the United States and Europe, and these guidelines are designed to be a broad framework within which physicians and families can work together to implement specific screening. Further study is expected to lead to modifications of these recommendations.” (Surveillance Recommendations for Children with Overgrowth Syndromes and Predisposition to Wilms Tumors and Hepatoblastoma. Jennifer M. Kalish, Leslie Doros, Lee J. Helman, Raoul C. Hennekam, Roland P. Kuiper, Saskia M. Maas, Eamonn R. Maher, Kim E. Nichols, Sharon E. Plon, Christopher C. Porter, Surya Rednam, Kris Ann P. Schultz, Lisa J. States, Gail E. Tomlinson, Kristin Zelley and Todd E. Druley. Clin Cancer Res July 1 2017 (23) (13) e115-e122; DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-071)

Unique has published a new leaflet about Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (BOS)!

Written by Dr. Joanna Kennedy¹ and reviewed by Professor Ruth Newbury – Ecob² this information guide is an exceptional user guide designed to help families, caregivers, educators, and medical professionals, alike, understand and plan appropriate care for children with Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. Unique, winners of Eurodis Patient Organisation Award 2016, supports and informs anyone born with a rare chromosome disorder, their families and carers.

We are very grateful that also Bohring-Opitz Syndrome is included in the comprehensive offline database of family-friendly, medically-verified, disorder-specific information guides about rare chromosome disorders compiled by Unique and want to thank Dr. Joanna Kennedy and Dr. Ruth Newbury-Ecob for this outstanding publication.

»Read Unique (Understanding Chromosome Disorders) : Bohring-Opitz Syndrome. Leaflet by  Unique 2017.

¹ Academic Paediatric Trainee, Severn Deanery

² MB ChB, MD, FRCP, FRCPCH, Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust