Noonan Syndrome

Original Editor - Kirenga Bamurange Liliane Top Contributors - Kirenga Bamurange Liliane, Lucinda hampton, Chelsea Mclene, Naomi O'Reilly, Kim Jackson, Rucha Gadgil and Leana Louw

Definition

NS Typical webbed neck, structural curve with rib deformity.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is a rare autosomal dominant condition or a genetic mutation present from birth, that causes a distinctive appearance and a range of health problems. The most consistent features are wide-set eyes, low-set ears, short stature, and pulmonic stenosis. People with Noonan syndrome may be mildly affected, or more severely affected. Noonan syndrome develops in a baby before birth. Sometimes, the disorder is diagnosed straight away, but some children with mild symptoms aren't diagnosed until they get older.

Noonan and Ehmke were the first to describe a succession of patients with the same similarities including unusual faces and multiple malformations like congenital heart disease. These patients were previously thought to have a form of Turner Syndrome, which has a lot of similarities in its clinical features with Noonan Syndrome.

Epidemiology

The estimated incidence is at ~1 in 1000-2500. As individuals have normal number of chromosomes, both males and females can be affected.  

Pathological Process

Autosomal Dominant Gene Structure

The inheritance is autosomal dominant although a significant proportion of cases are sporadic. Many genes have been implicated, the most common being the PTPN11 gene which encodes for SHP2, which results in an inability to inactivate SHP2 causing increased signalling of the Ras/MAPK pathway.

There are 2 types of mutations that cause Noonan Syndrome:

• Inherited: Children who have one parent with NS who carries the defective gene (autosomal dominant) have a 50% chance of developing the disorder.
• Random: NS can develop because of a new mutation in children who don't have a genetic predisposition for the disorder (de novo).

Clinical Presentation

NS at 3 months: Eyebrow slant, left-side eyelid dropping

NS is most often characterized by facial and musculoskeletal features. Although these features are more present during early childhood, they change over time and appear less characteristic during adulthood:

• In the newborn infant, the head is large with a small face, a tall forehead, wide-spaced eyes, short nose, low set ears, and a broad or webbed neck

Low set posteriorly rotated, abnormally formed ear: 3 month with NS

Many infants with NS also have heart (cardiac) defects such as:

• Pulmonary valvular stenosis
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Septal defects

The following characteristics are also seen among individuals with NS:

• Short stature: up to 83% of people with NS have a short stature
• Pectus deformity of the chest with pectus carinatum (hollow chest)
• Kyphosis
• Scoliosis
• Cubitus valgus (outward deviation of the elbows)
• Rounded shoulders
• Rib abnormalities
• Genu valgum ( Knock knees)
• Joint hyperextensibility (see Beighton score)
• Talipes equinovarus (club foot)

Individuals with NS may also present less common problems including:

• Learning disability: children with NS tend to often have a mild learning disability due to a lower IQ average
• Feeding problems: children with NS may have problems with sucking and chewing
• Speech problems: articulation difficulty due to a high arched palate and weak muscles
• Behavioral problems: some children with NS may have attention problems or difficulty to describe their or people emotions
• Eyes condition such as squint, lazy eye
• Hearing loss
• Hypotonia: decreased muscle tone will make children with NS reach early milestones later compared to other children
• Undescended testicles: one or both testicles may fail to drop into the scrotum in boys with NS
• Infertility can be diagnosed in boys if undescended testicles are not corrected at an early age
• Lymphoedema
• Bone marrow problems- Leukemia
• Skin problems such as dystrophic nails; extra prominence on pads of fingers and toes; follicular keratosis; hyperelastic skin; moles; thick curly hair or thin sparse hair.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually based on the child’s appearance and health problems, and is confirmed with genetic testing. This will involve a blood test. Further tests may be needed and include: heart investigations including an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ultrasound).

Differential Diagnosis

Several conditions identified as RASopathies have similarities with NS. These conditions all have similar signs and symptoms and are caused by changes in the same cell signaling pathway.

Besides NS, the RASopathies consist of cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, Costello syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, Legius syndrome, and Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines. The differential diagnosis, therefore, includes Williams syndrome, intrauterine exposure to primidone, fetal alcohol syndrome, and Aarskog syndrome. Other cardiocutaneous syndromes such as LEOPARD syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, and Watson syndrome have a markedly overlapping phenotype.

Management

Living with Noonan syndrome: Most children with Noonan syndrome go on to lead normal lives in adulthood. However, a child newly diagnosed with the disorder may need a number of treatments, and regular tests to monitor their condition over time. The types of treatment and support required will depend on the problems they experience. A regular comprehensive follow-up in a multidisciplinary approach is needed to manage the medical and developmental complications of Noonan syndrome.

Medical Management

The medical treatment will focus on problems such as:

• Heart Defects:
  • With pulmonary stenosis: no treatment will be required if it's mild. If it's severe a surgery to narrow the valves will be required
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may need to be treated with either medication such as beta-blockers or surgery to remove or destroy some of the excess heart muscle
  • Septal defects usually get better with age and thus do not need any treatment.

• Growth issues: A growth hormone therapy is given around 4 to 5 years old. The medication Somatropin, a single daily injection is the most used. By adulthood, some people with NS may have normal height, but short stature is more common.

• Feeding and speech problems: Speech Therapy is needed to effectively use the muscles of the mouth and develop them.
• Undescended testicles: A surgical procedure called orchidopexy is performed
• Learning Disabilities: Special educational needs and the assessment procedure.
• Gross and fine motor delays to be assessed and treated by Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapy

People of any age with Noonan syndrome may be at an increased risk of cancer. They need to adopt healthy habits throughout life. It is imperative that they regularly do have physical checkups and screenings.

Physiotherapy Management

In addition to medical management, patients may need to be referred for physiotherapy. The physiotherapy treatment will focus on patient education, improvement of the range of motion; strengthening exercises as well as pain management.

Early Intervention is crucial for a child diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome as they have delayed motor milestones.  The following exercises improve and maintain flexibility, endurance, strength, coordination, and balance in children with NS:

1. Sit-ups: From lying down on their back the child comes up to a full sitting position by holding the therapist's fingers
2. Tall kneel: This is a great exercise for balance and core strength
3. Sitting balance as a great activity for core balance, strength, and body awareness.
4. Sit to stand from step stool: This is a great leg strengthening activity as the child stands up from the sitting position.  
5. Stepping over obstacles: it's an important activity as balance is challenging for children with NS
6. Crawling over pillows as a great overall strengthening and motor planning activity.
7. Stair negotiation skills: As children with NS have a hard time alternating their feet on the stairs because of poor balance and short stature; this is a very good practice for them. 
8. Therapy ball: The child lies on their back over the ball and reaches back for something, and comes up to a sitting position
9. Passive bicycle kicks while singing
10. Standing or walking on different surfaces such as hardwood floor, pillows, balance disc, shoes on grass, shoes on wood chips at the playground.
11. Lying on the back to massage the bottom of their feet for proprioceptive input; which helps with independent walking and balance on the stairs.
12. Joint Compressions help in body awareness with independent standing/walking and balance on various surfaces.

In their study on perceived motor problems in daily life, Croonen et.al (2016); showed that people with NS reported particular problems related to pain; decreased muscle strength, fatigue, and clumsiness and their evident impact on functioning in their daily activities. Most people with NS believed that exercise, appropriate physiotherapy advice, and other supportive intervention are key elements to improved motor performance.

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent Noonan Syndrome because it occurs spontaneously, However, it is recommended that people with a history of NS get genetic counseling before they have children. If Noonan syndrome is detected early, it's possible that ongoing and comprehensive care may lessen some of its complications such as heart disease.

Prognosis

Noonan Syndrome is a lifelong condition. People with NS are differently affected and therefore their life expectancy will depend on the presence and severity of congenital heart defects Noonan Syndrome.