Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS): A Neonatal Case Report Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of a Previously Reported Missense Variant
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Detailed Case Description
3. Discussion
- (a)
- Leukemia: KMT2A rearrangements and partial tandem duplications (KMT2A-PTD) are hallmark mutations in high-risk pediatric, infant, and therapy-related AML/ALL. “Numerous genomic breakpoints within the KMT2A gene have been reported in young children and adults with hematologic disorders and are present in up to 10% of acute leukemias” [22].
- (b)
- Developmental Syndrome: Heterozygous germline mutations in the KMT2A gene (functional loss of one copy) lead to WSS [3,5], a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmental delay, distinctive facial features, short stature, hypertrichosis, and neurological features, including hypotonia and seizures [2]. Our case adds to the phenotypic spectrum of the syndrome, as it presented with characteristic interstitial lung disease and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis requiring surgical intervention.
| Source (Citation) | Case ID/Cohort | Inheritance | Age/Sex | Key Phenotypes Reported | Evidence/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present case (this report) | Proband | De novo | Neonate (female) | failure to thrive, hypotonia, dysmorphic features, feeding difficulties, patent ductus arteriosus, hypertrichosis cubiti, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, interstitial lung disease | WES confirmed; detailed clinical phenotype |
| Foroutan A et al. [26] PMID: 35163737 | WDSTS_EPIC Pt.7 | Not specified (likely de novo) | Male, 3 years | included in methylation episignature cohort; phenotype details limited | Variant validated within cohort |
| Kaur A et al. [27] PMID: 38567171 | WDST | De novo | Female, 11 months | small palpebral fissures, thin upper lip, hypertrichosis cubiti, puffy hands, hypotonia, failure to thrive, global developmental delay | WES confirmed |
| Baer S et al. [25], PMID: 29574747. | WDST, pt.25 | Male, 5 years | hypertelorism, small palpebral fissures, downslanted palpebral fissures, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, thin upper lip, advance bone age (+2 years), rib anomalies (11 pairs), tapering finger, sacral dimple, hypertrichosis of the back, hypertrichosis of lower limbs, hypotonia neonatal and persistent, developmental delay, severe intellectual disability, seizures (absences), dysgenesis of corpus callosum, bilateral ptosis, strabismus, astigmatism, lachrymal stenosis, left pyelectasia, posterior urethral valve, constipation, frequent infections, central apneas | WES | |
| Bramswig NC et al. [46]; PMID: 25724810. | K2431–WDST | De novo | Male, 22 months | intellectual disability, hypotonia, right retinal atrophy, frequent infections, feeding problems, coarse face, low frontal hairline, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, flat nasal bridge, broad nose, upturned nasal tip, large mouth, thin upper vermillion, thick lower vermillion, macroglossia, long philtrum, small, protruding ears, aplasia/hypoplasia of distal phalanges of the 5th finger, prominent interphalangeal joints, prominent distal phalanges, cryptorchidism, patent ductus arteriosus, mitral valve prolapse, body hirsutism, sparse scalp hair, fasciculation of tongue | WES Trio-analysis/the patient presented aspiration pneumonia at the age of 3 months and recurrent pulmonary infections—died of sepsis at the age of 3 years. |
| Li et al. [16] PMID: 30305169 | Chinese cohort | Not specified | Not detailed | cohort phenotypes: developmental delay, hypertrichosis, short stature; phenotype details limited for specific variant | Variant listed in supplemental tables |
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| ABR | Auditory Brainstem Response |
| ALL | Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| AML | Acute Myeloid Leukemia |
| BOR | Brain–Lung–Thyroid |
| BPD | Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia |
| CT | Computed Tomography |
| HFNC | High-Flow Nasal Cannula |
| HGMD | Human Gene Mutation Database |
| ILD | Interstitial Lung Disease |
| MAS | Meconium Aspiration Syndrome |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| NICU | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
| PCR | Polymerase Chain Reaction |
| PDA | Patent Ductus Arteriosus |
| PTD | Partial Tandem Duplications |
| WES | Whole-Exome Sequencing |
| WSS | Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome |
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Poulou, M.; Kamilari, T.; Nikaina, E.; Dikoglou-Tzanetatou, E.; Kanaka-Gantenbein, C.; Kolialexi, A.; Siahanidou, T. Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS): A Neonatal Case Report Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of a Previously Reported Missense Variant. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 4163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104163
Poulou M, Kamilari T, Nikaina E, Dikoglou-Tzanetatou E, Kanaka-Gantenbein C, Kolialexi A, Siahanidou T. Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS): A Neonatal Case Report Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of a Previously Reported Missense Variant. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(10):4163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104163
Chicago/Turabian StylePoulou, Myrto, Thessalia Kamilari, Eirini Nikaina, Eleftheria Dikoglou-Tzanetatou, Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein, Aggeliki Kolialexi, and Tania Siahanidou. 2026. "Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS): A Neonatal Case Report Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of a Previously Reported Missense Variant" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 10: 4163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104163
APA StylePoulou, M., Kamilari, T., Nikaina, E., Dikoglou-Tzanetatou, E., Kanaka-Gantenbein, C., Kolialexi, A., & Siahanidou, T. (2026). Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS): A Neonatal Case Report Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of a Previously Reported Missense Variant. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(10), 4163. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27104163

