Merit Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (ISSN: 2354-323X) Vol. 9(3) pp. 200-202, March, 2021
Available online http://www.meritresearchjournals.org/mms/index.htm
Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
Case Report
Bilateral anophthalmia and clitoris and labia minora
agenesis. A case report
Viorica Radoi
1,2
, Delia Ileana Sabau, Radu Ursu
1,2
, Laurentiu Bohiltea
1,2
, Oana Toader
1,2
,
Lucian Pop
2
Abstract
1
“Carol Davila” University of Medicine
and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
2
“Alessandrescu-Rusescu” National
Institute
*Corresponding Author Email:
drdeliasabau@hotmail.com
Complete bilateral anophthalmia is the congenital absence of both eyes.
Ambiguous genitalia is the condition in which the patient’s genitalia are
incompletely developed or the baby has characteristics of both sexes.
Pathogenic variants inSOX2 gene are associated with syndromic
microphthalmia, type 3 (OMIM: 206900), with autosomal dominant
inheritance pattern and with AEG syndrome (OMIM 600992). We report the
case of a new born baby girl with bilateral anophthalmia and clitoris and
labia minora agenesis, which originated from in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Sequential genetic testing, QF-PCR, microarray and WES have been
performed and DNA was obtained according to standard procedures. Whole
exome sequencing (WES) identified a mutation in SOX2 (OMIM: 184429)
gene, a heterozygous pathogenic variant, NM_003106.4: c.371dupA p.
(Tyr125Valfs*14), highlighting the importance of this particular gene in
embryogenesis, sexualization and the development of the visual function.It
explains the clinical diagnosis of the patient. We have concluded that this
particular mutation found in the SOX2 gene could be correlated to the
pathological findings, although it was not reported before in the clinical
databases. Furthermore, a prenatal testing algorithm would be very helpful.
Additionally, we want to highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team
when diagnosing and managing the follow-up of a fetus with multiple
malformation such as this particular case.
Keywords: Bilateral anophthalmia, Clitoris agenesis, Labia minora agenesis,
SOX2, Syndromic
INTRODUCTION
Complete bilateral anophthalmia is the congenital
absence of both eyes. It is a rare disease often
associated with other malformations such as urogenital or
digestive. Ambiguous genitalia is the condition in which
the patient’s genitalia are incompletely developed or the
baby has characteristics of both sexes.
Anophthalmia has an estimated rate of incidence of
around 1 in 20 000 live births, clitoris and labia minora
agenesis are rare conditions, with only few cases
reported in medical literature.
SOX2 gene is an intronless gene that encodes a
member of the SRY-related HMG-box (SOX) family of
transcription factors involved in the regulation of
embryonic development and in the determination of cell
fate. The single exon gene is also expressed in the
prospective neural plate, peripheral nervous system,
nasal and otic placodes, bronchi, endoderm of the
esophagus, and the germ cells of both sexes where it
promotes normal sexual development. The product of this
gene is required for stem-cell maintenance in the central