Adams–Oliver Syndrome Type 3: A Case Report of Concurrent RBPJ, CACNA1A, and Double-Heterozygous MTHFR Variants

<b>Background and Clinical Significance</b><b>:</b> Adams-Oliver syndrome type 3 (AOS3) is a rare congenital disorder typically characterised by terminal transverse limb defects and variable involvement of other organ systems. Although pathogenic variants in RBPJ are well established in AOS3, associated neurodevelopmental or psychiatric features have been only sporadically documented. <b>Case Presentation</b>: We describe a male patient first evaluated at the age of 10 years and subsequently re-evaluated at 14 years, with AOS3 presenting terminal limb defects together with autistic-like behaviour, cognitive difficulties, dyslexia, and recurrent depressive symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a heterozygous pathogenic variant in RBPJ (c.505A>G; p.Lys169Glu), confirming the molecular diagnosis of autosomal dominant AOS3. Additional findings included a heterozygous missense variant in CACNA1A (p.Arg1678Cys), a gene linked to neurological disorders with broad phenotypic variability. Because of elevated homocysteine levels, the patient was also tested for MTHFR variants and was found to be heterozygous for C677T and A1298C. <b>Conclusions:</b> This case illustrates a rare combination of a validated AOS3-associated RBPJ variant, along with additional CACNA1A and MTHFR variants that may influence the patient's neurocognitive and psychiatric characteristics. The results underscore the importance of comprehensive genetic testing in atypical AOS presentations and highlight the complexity of interpreting overlapping genetic factors.

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Journal
Diagnostics
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16020274
Primary Topic
Skin and Cellular Biology Research
Type
article
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article

Adams–Oliver Syndrome Type 3: A Case Report of Concurrent RBPJ, CACNA1A, and Double-Heterozygous MTHFR Variants

Carolina Cojocariu, Graţian Cosmin Damian, Diana Marian, ramona Amina Popovici et al.
Diagnostics
Skin and Cellular Biology Research
article

Adams–Oliver Syndrome Type 3: A Case Report of Concurrent RBPJ, CACNA1A, and Double-Heterozygous MTHFR Variants

Carolina Cojocariu, Graţian Cosmin Damian, Diana Marian, ramona Amina Popovici, Valerica Belengeanu, Cristina Popescu
article en

Abstract

<b>Background and Clinical Significance</b><b>:</b> Adams-Oliver syndrome type 3 (AOS3) is a rare congenital disorder typically characterised by terminal transverse limb defects and variable involvement of other organ systems. Although pathogenic variants in RBPJ are well established in AOS3, associated neurodevelopmental or psychiatric features have been only sporadically documented. <b>Case Presentation</b>: We describe a male patient first evaluated at the age of 10 years and subsequently re-evaluated at 14 years, with AOS3 presenting terminal limb defects together with autistic-like behaviour, cognitive difficulties, dyslexia, and recurrent depressive symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a heterozygous pathogenic variant in RBPJ (c.505A>G; p.Lys169Glu), confirming the molecular diagnosis of autosomal dominant AOS3. Additional findings included a heterozygous missense variant in CACNA1A (p.Arg1678Cys), a gene linked to neurological disorders with broad phenotypic variability. Because of elevated homocysteine levels, the patient was also tested for MTHFR variants and was found to be heterozygous for C677T and A1298C. <b>Conclusions:</b> This case illustrates a rare combination of a validated AOS3-associated RBPJ variant, along with additional CACNA1A and MTHFR variants that may influence the patient's neurocognitive and psychiatric characteristics. The results underscore the importance of comprehensive genetic testing in atypical AOS presentations and highlight the complexity of interpreting overlapping genetic factors.

DiagnosticsVol. 16(2)
Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara (RO), Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad (RO)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
Skin and Cellular Biology Research
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