title: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management.
abstract: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a malformation syndrome due to a deficiency of 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7). DHCR7 primarily catalyzes the reduction of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) to cholesterol. In SLOS, this results in decreased cholesterol and increased 7DHC levels, both during embryonic development and after birth. The malformations found in SLOS may result from decreased cholesterol, increased 7DHC or a combination of these two factors. This review discusses the clinical aspects and diagnosis of SLOS, therapeutic interventions and the current understanding of pathophysiological processes involved in SLOS.
authors.affiliation: Section on Molecular Dysmorphology, Program on Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. fdporter@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Forbes D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D019082:Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019995:7-dehydrocholesterol reductase