CHD8 intragenic deletion associated with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are highly heritable. De novo genomic alterations are considered an important cause of autism spectrum disorders. Recent research has shown that de novo loss-of-function mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) gene are associated with an increased risk of ASD. We describe a single case of an intragenic deletion of exons 26–28 in the CHD8 gene in a patient with autism and global developmental delay. Our clinical case supports the hypothesis that CHD8 may play a central role in neuronal cell development and ASD risk.