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.
Authors
- Fernanda Araujo Romera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4431-4717)
- Débora Gusmão Melo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7005-3544)
- Allan Chiaratti de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2200-9140)
- Ana Claudia Yoshikumi Prestes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9700-9022)
- Andre Luis Ferreira
- Eduardo Perrone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1368-2381)
- José Eduardo Mourão Santos
- Rodrigo Ragazzini
- Daniela Testoni Costa‐Nobre
- Guilherme Sotto Battiston
- Carolina de Souza Araujo
- Carolina Galhós de Aguiar
- Érica Trovisco Martins
Institutions
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (BR)
- Hospital São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
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
Funders
- Ministério da Saúde
- Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein