A 2 Mb deletion in 14q13 associated with severe developmental delay and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Interstitial deletions of chromosome 14 have rarely been described. We report on a boy in whom a 2 Mb deletion in 14q13 was discovered by array CGH. The deletion was a de novo event. The boy presented with asymmetrical growth retardation at birth. There was severe developmental delay with muscular hypotonia and focal epilepsy with apneic episodes progressing to serial tonic seizures. At the age of 3 3/12 years he was diagnosed with pneumonia. In the further course he developed symptoms of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. He died due to organ failure. Herein the clinical findings are compared to patients with cytogenetic visible deletions encompassing the region deleted in the proband and the possible connection with the deleted genes.