36 https://www.id-press.eu/mjms/index
Scientifc Foundation SPIROSKI, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2020 May 10; 8(C):36-40.
https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4287
eISSN: 1857-9655
Category: C - Case Reports
Section: Case Report in Pediatrics
Holt–Oram Syndrome Associated with Complex Congenital Heart
Disease: A Rare Case Presentation and Literature Review
Bejiqi Ramush
1,2,3
, Retkoceri Ragip
3
, Maloku Arlinda
3
, Mustafa Aferdita
3
, Bejiqi R. Rinor
4
*
1
Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, USA;
2
University of Gjakova “Fehmi Agani,” Medical
School, Gjakova, Kosovo;
3
Department of Cardiology, Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo;
4
Polyclinic “Echoscan”, Prishtina, 10000 Kosovo
Abstract
BACKGROUND: First described by Holt and Oram in 1960 in a four-generation family with atrial septal defects
and thumb abnormalities, is an inherited disorder characterized by abnormalities of the upper limbs and heart. This
syndrome is characterized by upper extremity malformations involving radial, thenar, or carpal bones. An abnormal
carpal bone is present in all affected individuals and may be the only evidence of disease. About 75% of individuals
with Holt–Oram syndrome (HOS) have a congenital heart malformation which may include an atrial or ventricular
septal defect or heart block. In rare cases, the syndrome can affect other organs and systems which can be life
threatening.
CASE REPORT: Here, we present a newborn with clinical and radiologic features of HOS consisting of bilateral
asymmetric hypoplastic thumbs, generalized brachydactyly, limited bilateral supination due to radioulnar synostosis,
and associated with complex heart disease and hypoplastic tricuspid valve.
CONCLUSION: In our case HOS is associated with complex congenital heart defects including atrial septal defect,
ventricular septal defect with hypoplastic tricuspid valve. Based on the listed literature we didn’t fnd any other case
where tricuspid valve was affected.
Edited by: Igor Spiroski
Citation: Ramush B, Ragip R, Arlinda M, Aferdita M,
Rinor BR. Holt–Oram Syndrome Associated
with Complex Congenital Heart Disease: A Rare
Case Presentation and Literature Review. Open
Access Maced J Med Sci. 2020 May 10; 8(C):36-40.
https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4287
Keywords: Atriodigital syndrome; TBX5 gene; Congenital
heart disease; Hypoplastic tricuspid valve
*Correspondence: Bejiqi R. Rinor, Polyclinic “Echoscan”,
Prishtina, 10000 Kosovo. Phone: +383 49 585564.
E-mail: rinorbejiqi25@gmail.com
Received: 09-Jan-2020
Revised: 14-Mar-2020
Accepted: 21-Apr-2020
Copyright: © 2020 Bejiqi Ramush, Retkoceri Ragip,
Maloku Arlinda, Mustafa Aferdita, Bejiqi R. Rinor
Funding: This research did not receive any fnancial
support.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no
competing interest exists.
Open Access: This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Introduction
Holt–Oram syndrome (HOS) (also called an
atriodigital syndrome, atriodigital dysplasia, cardiac-
limb syndrome, heart-hand syndrome type 1, HOS, and
ventriculo-radial syndrome) is an autosomal dominant
very rare disorder that affects bones in the arms
and hands (the upper limbs) and often causes heart
problems [1]. HOS is the most common of the heart-
hand syndromes with the estimated prevalence between
0.7 and 1/100,000 births. HOS has been reported from
a number of countries worldwide and in individuals
of different racial and ethnic backgrounds [2]. Bone
abnormalities may affect only one side of the body or both
sides; if both sides are affected differently, the left side is
usually affected more severely. About 75% of individuals
with HOS also have congenital heart problems, with
the most common being defects – atrial or ventricular
septal defect (VSD) [3]. The most common problem is
ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) and VSD,
especially those occurring in the muscular trabeculated
septum and cardiac conduction disease. So far, no signs
of heart valve disease have been reported.
Case Report
A mail newborn weighing 3200 g from the
normal pregnancy and normal delivery at 39 weeks
of gestation was done. At the delivery, the baby was
normal with an Apgar score of 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 min,
respectively, and a SaO
2
level of 92%. The previous
family medical history was unremarkable, and there
was no family history of congenital malformation.
During pregnancy by the obstetrician, some routine
echosonographic examinations have been made,
and no any morphological or heart disease has been
referred. During the frst postnatal routine clinical
examination, complex morphological deformities of
upper extremities have been registered. Both auricles
of the ear were deformed with the normal external
canal (Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, hypospadia
Grade I and right reponible inguinal hernia were
noted (Figure 3). The chest X-ray was normal
(Figure 4). The electrocardiogram presented normal
sinus rhythm, right axis deviation, and incomplete
block of the right bundle branch. Routine X-ray of
upper extremities showed bilateral and symmetric
upper limb malformations which include unequal