17q12 deletion syndrome
Last updated 10 Nov 2023
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17q12 deletion syndrome is a condition that results from the deletion of a small piece of chromosome 17 in each cell. The deletion occurs on the long (q) arm of the chromosome at a position designated q12.
Description
17q12 deletion syndrome is a condition that results from the deletion of a small piece of chromosome 17 in each cell. The deletion occurs on the long (q) arm of the chromosome at a position designated q12.
The signs and symptoms of 17q12 deletion syndrome vary widely, even among affected members of the same family. Among the more common features associated with this chromosomal change are problems with development or function of the kidneys and urinary system. These abnormalities range from very severe malformations, leading to kidney failure before birth, to mild or no problems with kidney and urinary tract function. Fluid-filled sacs (cysts) in the kidneys are particularly common. Many affected individuals also develop a form of diabetes called maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5 (MODY5), which is caused by a malfunction of certain cells in the pancreas. MODY5 usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood, most often before age 25. The combination of kidney cysts and MODY5 is sometimes referred to as renal cysts and diabetes (RCAD) syndrome.
About half of people with 17q12 deletion syndrome have delayed development (particularly speech and language delays), intellectual disability, or behavioural or psychiatric disorders. Neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions that have been reported in people with 17q12 deletion syndrome include autism spectrum disorder (which affects social interaction and communication), schizophrenia, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Less commonly, 17q12 deletion syndrome also causes abnormalities of the eyes, liver, brain, genitalia, and other body systems. Some females with this chromosomal change have Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, which is characterised by underdevelopment or absence of the vagina and uterus. 17q12 deletion syndrome is also sometimes associated with subtle differences in facial features.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
17q12 chromosomal microdeletion
17q12 microdeletion
17q12 recurrent deletion syndrome
Deletion 17q12
Recurrent genomic rearrangement in chromosome 17q12
Further reading and references
- 17q12 deletion syndrome; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Laffargue F, Bourthoumieu S, Llanas B, Baudouin V, Lahoche A, Morin D, Bessenay L, De Parscau L, Cloarec S, Delrue MA, Taupiac E, Dizier E, Laroche C, Bahans C, Yardin C, Lacombe D, Guigonis V. Towards a new point of view on the phenotype of patients with a 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. Arch Dis Child. 2015 Mar;100(3):259-64. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2014-306810. Epub 2014 Oct 16.
- Mefford HC, Clauin S, Sharp AJ, Moller RS, Ullmann R, Kapur R, Pinkel D, Cooper GM, Ventura M, Ropers HH, Tommerup N, Eichler EE, Bellanne-Chantelot C. Recurrent reciprocal genomic rearrangements of 17q12 are associated with renal disease, diabetes, and epilepsy. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Nov;81(5):1057-69. doi: 10.1086/522591. Epub 2007 Sep 26.
- Mitchel MW, Moreno-De-Luca D, Myers SM, Levy RV, Turner S, Ledbetter DH, Martin CL. 17q12 Recurrent Deletion Syndrome. 2016 Dec 8 [updated 2025 Aug 14]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK401562/
- Moreno-De-Luca D; SGENE Consortium; Mulle JG; Simons Simplex Collection Genetics Consortium; Kaminsky EB, Sanders SJ; GeneSTAR; Myers SM, Adam MP, Pakula AT, Eisenhauer NJ, Uhas K, Weik L, Guy L, Care ME, Morel CF, Boni C, Salbert BA, Chandrareddy A, Demmer LA, Chow EW, Surti U, Aradhya S, Pickering DL, Golden DM, Sanger WG, Aston E, Brothman AR, Gliem TJ, Thorland EC, Ackley T, Iyer R, Huang S, Barber JC, Crolla JA, Warren ST, Martin CL, Ledbetter DH. Deletion 17q12 is a recurrent copy number variant that confers high risk of autism and schizophrenia. Am J Hum Genet. 2010 Nov 12;87(5):618-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.10.004. Epub 2010 Nov 4.
- Nagamani SC, Erez A, Shen J, Li C, Roeder E, Cox S, Karaviti L, Pearson M, Kang SH, Sahoo T, Lalani SR, Stankiewicz P, Sutton VR, Cheung SW. Clinical spectrum associated with recurrent genomic rearrangements in chromosome 17q12. Eur J Hum Genet. 2010 Mar;18(3):278-84. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.174. Epub 2009 Oct 21.
- Rasmussen M, Vestergaard EM, Graakjaer J, Petkov Y, Bache I, Fagerberg C, Kibaek M, Svaneby D, Petersen OB, Brasch-Andersen C, Sunde L. 17q12 deletion and duplication syndrome in Denmark-A clinical cohort of 38 patients and review of the literature. Am J Med Genet A. 2016 Nov;170(11):2934-2942. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37848. Epub 2016 Jul 13.
- Stefansson H, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Steinberg S, Magnusdottir B, Morgen K, Arnarsdottir S, Bjornsdottir G, Walters GB, Jonsdottir GA, Doyle OM, Tost H, Grimm O, Kristjansdottir S, Snorrason H, Davidsdottir SR, Gudmundsson LJ, Jonsson GF, Stefansdottir B, Helgadottir I, Haraldsson M, Jonsdottir B, Thygesen JH, Schwarz AJ, Didriksen M, Stensbol TB, Brammer M, Kapur S, Halldorsson JG, Hreidarsson S, Saemundsen E, Sigurdsson E, Stefansson K. CNVs conferring risk of autism or schizophrenia affect cognition in controls. Nature. 2014 Jan 16;505(7483):361-6. doi: 10.1038/nature12818. Epub 2013 Dec 18.
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