A family with segregation of an unbalanced translocation (7;13) (q36;q32) in three patients with severe mental retardation, microcephaly and dysmorphic features, detected by subtelomere FISH: genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.

We report a Sardinian family in which three members showed a mental-retardation-microcephaly-multiple malformations syndrome resulting from an unbalanced translocation (7;13)(q36;q32) which led to subtelomeric trisomy 7q36qter and partial monosomy 13q32qter. The unbalanced translocation was transmitted by alternate segregation from a female and a male carriers of the balanced translocation. The three patients had severe mental retardation, microcephaly and multiple minor facial and fingers anomalies. Neuroimages showed brain atrophy, associated in two patients with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. FISH with chromosome 13 and 7 specific painting probes and subtelomere specific probes was instrumental for defining and characterizing the chromosomal translocation. Extensive genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis has been offered to all the members of the family.