Case Report: A de novo Variant in NALCN Associated With CLIFAHDD Syndrome in a Chinese Infant

Abstract

Background: The NALCN encodes a sodium ion leak channel that regulates nerve-resting conductance and excitability. NALCN variants are associated with two neurodevelopmental disorders, one is CLIFAHDD (autosomal dominant congenital contractures of the limbs and face, hypotonia, and developmental delay, OMIM #616266) and another is IHPRF (infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation, and characteristic facies 1, OMIM #615419).

Case presentation: In the current study, a Chinese infant that manifested abnormal facial features, adducted thumbs, and neurodevelopmental retardation was diagnosed with CLIFAHDD syndrome. A trio-based whole-exome sequencing revealed that the infant harbored a de novo variant of the NALCN gene (c.4300A>G, p.I1434V).

Conclusions: Our findings further enriched the variant spectrum of the NALCN gene and may expand the clinical range of NALCN-related disorders.

Keywords: CLIFAHDD; NALCN; de novo mutation; neurodevelopmental retardation; sodium ion leak channel.