Congenital Hydrocephalus: Gómez-López-Hernández Syndrome, an underdiagnosed Syndrome. A clinical case

Abstract

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is defined as complex conditions influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Excluding hydrocephalus acquired from infection or brain tumors, congenital hydrocephalus with a genetic cause may occur isolated (hydrocephalus isolated, pure or non-syndromatic) or as a component of a genetic syndrome (syndromic hydrocephalus).

Objective: To present a syndromic congenital hydrocephalus with a known diagnosis, in order to be considered in the study of this pathology and to perform a review of hydrocephaly with a genetic cause.

Clinical Case: Preschool with a prenatal diagnosis of hydrocephalus and rhombencephalosynapsis, karyotype and study of TORCH was normal. At the moment of birth, the prenatal diagnoses were confirmed and a malformation of cerebral cortical development was excluded. During the first week of life, peritoneal ventricle shunt was performed. A reevaluation at age 4, the absence of corneal reflexes bilateral parietal and congenital focal alopecia associated with rhombencephalosynapsis, meet definitive criteria for cerebello-trigeminal-dermal displasia or Gómez-López-Hernández syndrome (GLHS).

Conclusions: GLHS is an uncommon neurocutaneous syndrome, possibly a sporadic condition that is underdiagnosed. Due to the new imaging and genetic technologies pre and post-natal, today it is possible to achieve a better and more accurate diagnosis of hydrocephalus with a genetic origin, in which the high suspicion of teams of clinical specialists is essential. Without accurate diagnosis, we can not access to a long-term prognosis, prevention of aggregate morbidity or an adequate genetic counseling, which are required in today’s pediatrics.