Expanding the Genotype–Phenotype Correlation of Marden–Walker Syndrome due to <i>PIEZO2</i> Gene Variants: A Case Report From Brazil

Marden-Walker syndrome (MWS; OMIM 248700) is an extremely rare congenital disorder characterized by multiple joint contractures, craniofacial dysmorphism, neurological abnormalities, and multisystem involvement. Although historically diagnosed on clinical grounds, only a few cases have been molecularly confirmed. Here, we describe a Brazilian female infant with classic manifestations of MWS, carrying a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the PIEZO2 gene not previously reported in MWS. To our knowledge, this is the first molecularly confirmed MWS case from Brazil, thus expanding both the genotype-phenotype spectrum and geographic distribution of PIEZO2-related disorders. Comparative analysis of previously reported molecularly confirmed cases reveals shared core features and highlights the prominent neurological involvement observed in our patient. A review of individuals with the same PIEZO2 variant demonstrates marked phenotypic variability-from Gordon syndrome to distal arthrogryposis type 5-underscoring allelic heterogeneity and variable expressivity. This case refines the phenotypic spectrum of PIEZO2-related disorders and illustrates how allelic heterogeneity contributes to wide clinical variability, while also underscoring the importance of including underrepresented populations in variant interpretation.

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Publication Details

Journal
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Published
2026-01-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmga.70046
Primary Topic
Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Expanding the Genotype–Phenotype Correlation of Marden–Walker Syndrome due to PIEZO2 Gene Variants: A Case Report From Brazil

Fernanda Araujo Romera, Débora Gusmão Melo, Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira, Ana Claudia Yoshikumi Prestes et al.
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
article

Expanding the Genotype–Phenotype Correlation of Marden–Walker Syndrome due to PIEZO2 Gene Variants: A Case Report From Brazil

Fernanda Araujo Romera, Débora Gusmão Melo, Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira, Ana Claudia Yoshikumi Prestes, Andre Luis Ferreira, Eduardo Perrone, José Eduardo Mourão Santos, Rodrigo Ragazzini, Daniela Testoni Costa‐Nobre, Guilherme Sotto Battiston, Carolina de Souza Araujo, Carolina Galhós de Aguiar, Érica Trovisco Martins
article en

Abstract

Marden-Walker syndrome (MWS; OMIM 248700) is an extremely rare congenital disorder characterized by multiple joint contractures, craniofacial dysmorphism, neurological abnormalities, and multisystem involvement. Although historically diagnosed on clinical grounds, only a few cases have been molecularly confirmed. Here, we describe a Brazilian female infant with classic manifestations of MWS, carrying a heterozygous pathogenic variant in the PIEZO2 gene not previously reported in MWS. To our knowledge, this is the first molecularly confirmed MWS case from Brazil, thus expanding both the genotype-phenotype spectrum and geographic distribution of PIEZO2-related disorders. Comparative analysis of previously reported molecularly confirmed cases reveals shared core features and highlights the prominent neurological involvement observed in our patient. A review of individuals with the same PIEZO2 variant demonstrates marked phenotypic variability-from Gordon syndrome to distal arthrogryposis type 5-underscoring allelic heterogeneity and variable expressivity. This case refines the phenotypic spectrum of PIEZO2-related disorders and illustrates how allelic heterogeneity contributes to wide clinical variability, while also underscoring the importance of including underrepresented populations in variant interpretation.

American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (BR), Hospital São Paulo (BR), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Ministério da Saúde, Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
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