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Pediatrics35 papers

Melnick-Fraser syndrome

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Melnick-Needles syndrome (MNS) is a rare, X-linked dominant disorder caused by mutations in the filamin A gene (FLNA). It presents with bone dysplasia and characteristic facial features in females, while males may exhibit a more severe, perinatally lethal phenotype 1.

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria: Bone dysplasia, characteristic facial changes, and in severe cases, perinatal lethality in males 1.
  • Recommended Tests: Genetic testing for FLNA mutations, skeletal surveys, and detailed clinical examination focusing on craniofacial features and skeletal anomalies 1.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatments: Supportive care tailored to specific manifestations (e.g., orthopedic interventions for bone dysplasia) 1.
  • Adjunctive Treatments: No specific pharmacological treatments mentioned; management focuses on symptomatic and supportive care 1.
  • Special Populations

  • Pregnancy: Prenatal diagnosis possible through genetic testing; risk of severe perinatal complications in affected males 1.
  • Pediatrics: Early intervention for skeletal and craniofacial anomalies crucial for quality of life 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Genetic Testing for FLNA Mutations is essential for definitive diagnosis and family planning 1. (Evidence: Strong)
  • Supportive Care Tailored to Manifestations should be provided, addressing bone dysplasia and craniofacial abnormalities 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
  • Consider Prenatal Genetic Counseling for families with a history of MNS, especially given the risk of severe outcomes in affected males 1. (Evidence: Expert opinion)
  • References

    1 Santos HH, Garcia PP, Pereira L, Leão LL, Aguiar RA, Lana AM et al.. Mutational analysis of two boys with the severe perinatally lethal Melnick-Needles syndrome. American journal of medical genetics. Part A 2010. link 2 Saleh GM, Hussain B, Verity DH, Collin JR. A surgical strategy for the correction of Fraser syndrome cryptophthalmos. Ophthalmology 2009. link 3 Kalpana Kumari MK, Kamath S, Mysorekar VV, Nandini G. Fraser syndrome. Indian journal of pathology & microbiology 2008. link 4 Thapa R, Bhattacharya A. Fraser syndrome with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Indian pediatrics 2008. link 5 De Jong A, Warren M, Rehrauer W, Harter J, Baraboo M, Chandra S et al.. Fraser syndrome: affected siblings born to nonconsanguineous parents and diagnosed at autopsy. Pediatric and developmental pathology : the official journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society 2008. link 6 Prasun P, Pradhan M, Goel H. Intrafamilial variability in Fraser syndrome. Prenatal diagnosis 2007. link 7 van Haelst MM, Scambler PJ, Hennekam RC. Fraser syndrome: a clinical study of 59 cases and evaluation of diagnostic criteria. American journal of medical genetics. Part A 2007. link 8 Comstock JM, Putnam AR, Opitz JM, Pysher TJ, Szakacs J. Prenatal death in Fraser syndrome. Fetal and pediatric pathology 2005. link 9 Crowe S, Westbrook A, Bourke M, Lyons B, Russell J. Impossible laryngeal intubation in an infant with Fraser syndrome. Paediatric anaesthesia 2004. link 10 Karas DE, Respler DS. Fraser syndrome: a case report and review of the otolaryngologic manifestations. International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 1995. link01058-6) 11 Ozgünen T, Evrüke C, Kadayifçi O, Demir C, Aridoğan N, Vardar MA. Fraser syndrome. International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1995. link02335-v) 12 Pankau R, Partsch CJ, Jänig U, Meinecke R. Fraser (Cryptophthalmos-syndactyly) syndrome: a case with bilateral anophthalmia but presence of normal eyelids. Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) 1994. link 13 Martínez-Frías ML, Bermejo E, Sánchez Otero T, Urioste M, Morena V, Cruz E. Sclerocornea, hypertelorism, syndactyly, and ambiguous genitalia. American journal of medical genetics 1994. link 14 Sullivan TJ, Clarke MP, Rootman DS, Pashby RC. Eyelid and fornix reconstruction in bilateral abortive cryptophthalmos (Fraser syndrome). Australian and New Zealand journal of ophthalmology 1992. link 15 Ramsing M, Rehder H, Holzgreve W, Meinecke P, Lenz W. Fraser syndrome (cryptophthalmos with syndactyly) in the fetus and newborn. Clinical genetics 1990. link 16 Francannet C, Lefrançois P, Dechelotte P, Robert E, Malpuech G, Robert JM. Fraser syndrome with renal agenesis in two consanguineous Turkish families. American journal of medical genetics 1990. link 17 Woodhead P, Hall C. Case report: Fraser syndrome, cryptophthalmos with small bowel malrotation. Clinical radiology 1990. link82156-7) 18 Hing S, Wilson-Holt N, Kriss A, Flüeler U, Taylor D. Complete cryptophthalmos: case report with normal flash-VEP and ERG. Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus 1990. link 19 Boyd PA, Keeling JW, Lindenbaum RH. Fraser syndrome (cryptophthalmos-syndactyly syndrome): a review of eleven cases with postmortem findings. American journal of medical genetics 1988. link 20 Gattuso J, Patton MA, Baraitser M. The clinical spectrum of the Fraser syndrome: report of three new cases and review. Journal of medical genetics 1987. link 21 Mortimer G, McEwan HP, Yates JR. Fraser syndrome presenting as monozygotic twins with bilateral renal agenesis. Journal of medical genetics 1985. link 22 Burn J, Marwood RP. Fraser syndrome presenting as bilateral renal agenesis in three sibs. Journal of medical genetics 1982. link 23 ter Haar B, Hamel B, Hendriks J, de Jager J. Melnick-Needles syndrome: indication for an autosomal recessive form. American journal of medical genetics 1982. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Mutational analysis of two boys with the severe perinatally lethal Melnick-Needles syndrome.Santos HH, Garcia PP, Pereira L, Leão LL, Aguiar RA, Lana AM et al. American journal of medical genetics. Part A (2010)
    2. [2]
      A surgical strategy for the correction of Fraser syndrome cryptophthalmos.Saleh GM, Hussain B, Verity DH, Collin JR Ophthalmology (2009)
    3. [3]
      Fraser syndrome.Kalpana Kumari MK, Kamath S, Mysorekar VV, Nandini G Indian journal of pathology & microbiology (2008)
    4. [4]
      Fraser syndrome with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.Thapa R, Bhattacharya A Indian pediatrics (2008)
    5. [5]
      Fraser syndrome: affected siblings born to nonconsanguineous parents and diagnosed at autopsy.De Jong A, Warren M, Rehrauer W, Harter J, Baraboo M, Chandra S et al. Pediatric and developmental pathology : the official journal of the Society for Pediatric Pathology and the Paediatric Pathology Society (2008)
    6. [6]
      Intrafamilial variability in Fraser syndrome.Prasun P, Pradhan M, Goel H Prenatal diagnosis (2007)
    7. [7]
      Fraser syndrome: a clinical study of 59 cases and evaluation of diagnostic criteria.van Haelst MM, Scambler PJ, Hennekam RC American journal of medical genetics. Part A (2007)
    8. [8]
      Prenatal death in Fraser syndrome.Comstock JM, Putnam AR, Opitz JM, Pysher TJ, Szakacs J Fetal and pediatric pathology (2005)
    9. [9]
      Impossible laryngeal intubation in an infant with Fraser syndrome.Crowe S, Westbrook A, Bourke M, Lyons B, Russell J Paediatric anaesthesia (2004)
    10. [10]
      Fraser syndrome: a case report and review of the otolaryngologic manifestations.Karas DE, Respler DS International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology (1995)
    11. [11]
      Fraser syndrome.Ozgünen T, Evrüke C, Kadayifçi O, Demir C, Aridoğan N, Vardar MA International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (1995)
    12. [12]
      Fraser (Cryptophthalmos-syndactyly) syndrome: a case with bilateral anophthalmia but presence of normal eyelids.Pankau R, Partsch CJ, Jänig U, Meinecke R Genetic counseling (Geneva, Switzerland) (1994)
    13. [13]
      Sclerocornea, hypertelorism, syndactyly, and ambiguous genitalia.Martínez-Frías ML, Bermejo E, Sánchez Otero T, Urioste M, Morena V, Cruz E American journal of medical genetics (1994)
    14. [14]
      Eyelid and fornix reconstruction in bilateral abortive cryptophthalmos (Fraser syndrome).Sullivan TJ, Clarke MP, Rootman DS, Pashby RC Australian and New Zealand journal of ophthalmology (1992)
    15. [15]
      Fraser syndrome (cryptophthalmos with syndactyly) in the fetus and newborn.Ramsing M, Rehder H, Holzgreve W, Meinecke P, Lenz W Clinical genetics (1990)
    16. [16]
      Fraser syndrome with renal agenesis in two consanguineous Turkish families.Francannet C, Lefrançois P, Dechelotte P, Robert E, Malpuech G, Robert JM American journal of medical genetics (1990)
    17. [17]
    18. [18]
      Complete cryptophthalmos: case report with normal flash-VEP and ERG.Hing S, Wilson-Holt N, Kriss A, Flüeler U, Taylor D Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (1990)
    19. [19]
      Fraser syndrome (cryptophthalmos-syndactyly syndrome): a review of eleven cases with postmortem findings.Boyd PA, Keeling JW, Lindenbaum RH American journal of medical genetics (1988)
    20. [20]
      The clinical spectrum of the Fraser syndrome: report of three new cases and review.Gattuso J, Patton MA, Baraitser M Journal of medical genetics (1987)
    21. [21]
      Fraser syndrome presenting as monozygotic twins with bilateral renal agenesis.Mortimer G, McEwan HP, Yates JR Journal of medical genetics (1985)
    22. [22]
      Fraser syndrome presenting as bilateral renal agenesis in three sibs.Burn J, Marwood RP Journal of medical genetics (1982)
    23. [23]
      Melnick-Needles syndrome: indication for an autosomal recessive form.ter Haar B, Hamel B, Hendriks J, de Jager J American journal of medical genetics (1982)

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