title: Mortality in Joubert syndrome.
abstract: Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare, recessively inherited neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a distinctive mid-hindbrain malformation. Little is known about mortality in affected individuals. Identifying the timing and causes of death will allow for development of healthcare guidelines for families and providers and, thus, help to prolong and improve the lives of patients with JS. We evaluated information on 40 deceased individuals with JS to characterize age and cause of death. We compared this population with 525 living individuals with JS to estimate associations between risk of death and extra-neurological features. Genetic causes were examined in both groups. Mean age of death in this cohort was 7.2 years, and the most prevalent causes of death were respiratory failure (35%), particularly in individuals younger than 6 years, and kidney failure (37.5%), which was more common in older individuals. We identified possible associations between risk of death and kidney disease, liver fibrosis, polydactyly, occipital encephalocele, and genetic cause. This work highlights factors (genetic cause, extra-neurological organ involvement, and other malformations) likely to be associated with higher risk of mortality in JS, which should prompt increased monitoring for respiratory issues, kidney disease, and liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5937-5830
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dempsey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ian G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Life Sciences and Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ruxandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bachmann-Gagescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.affiliation: Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.|Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Hannah M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tully
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000293:Adolescent; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D012160:Retina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Joubert syndrome; hepatic fibrosis; mortality; nephronophthisis