OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Fanconi anemia (FA) patients diagnosed in a Clinical Genetics Service. METHODS: The study included all patients assisted in an university genetics service in Southern Brazil, between 1975 and 2008, with clinical suspicious of FA and submitted to the study of chromosomal breakage with diepoxybutane (DEB) from peripheral blood. A retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics of the patients was carried out by a systematic survey of their medical records. RESULTS: 17 patients were studied and seven had a confirmed diagnosis of FA. Patients with FA were characterized by a broad phenotype, ranging from pancytopenia without dysmorphisms to multiple malformations and absence of hematological alterations. Certain findings, such as triangular face, prominent ears and café-au-lait spots were common and found only among individuals with FA. History of bruises, hematomas, petechiae, infections and lymphadenopathies was also common among individuals of this group. However, neurological alterations were observed only in patients without FA. Consanguinity was verified in one patient who presented FA. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of this study, thefindings show the great phenotypical variability observed in patients with FA, which makes the diagnosis a clinical challenge. Nevertheless, some specific findings can serve as clues for FA detection. The early identification of these individuals is essential for their proper clinical management.
Fanconi anemia; pancytopenia; café-au-lait spots; esophagus; upper extremity deformities; congenital
