• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
  • Programs & Resources
  • Complete Report

Snyder-Robinson Syndrome

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Last updated: April 01, 2020
Years published: 2016, 2020


Acknowledgment

NORD gratefully acknowledges Charles E. Schwartz, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Emeritus, Greenwood Genetic Center, for the preparation of this report.


Disease Overview

Summary

Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS) is a rare X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) disorder in which affected males have a slender build with long limbs, angular profile, and prominent muscles or bones (asthenic habitus), low muscle mass, some abnormal facial features (dysmorphism), speech abnormalities, outward curvature and lateral curvature of the spine (kyphoscoliosis) and decreased bone mass leading to fragile bones (osteoporosis). Seizures are also rather common. The syndrome results from an inactivating mutation in the spermine synthase (SMS) gene resulting in an inability to convert spermidine to spermine.

Introduction

Snyder-Robinson syndrome was first described in a single family by Snyder and Robinson in 1969 as a non-syndromic X-linked disorder. Arena et al. (1996) re-examined the family and determined the affected males represented a novel X-linked syndrome. In 2003 Cason and colleagues determined that SRS resulted from a mutation in the SMS gene located at Xp21.3-p22.12. Since then, utilization of biochemical analysis (lack of SMS activity, altered spermidine/spermine ratio) to validate SMS mutations has allowed the identification of an additional 21families (most not published) with SRS.

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Synonyms

  • spermine synthase deficiency syndrome
  • SRS
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Signs & Symptoms

The symptoms, progression and severity of SRS exhibit some variability across families and individual patients. Affected children have a “gestalt” consisting of facial dysmorphism with a prominent lower lip, an asthenic build, low muscle mass, kyphoscohosis and speech abnormalities. Males with SRS have low muscle tone (hypotonia) at birth. Symptoms appear early, especially the facial features. Developmental milestones are also not met early in life. The developmental delay progresses such that many boys with SRS have some motor disability. Osteoporosis develops which can result in numerous fractures without a causative event. Seizures have been noted in many affected males and severity varies.

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Causes

All presently known cases of Snyder-Robinson syndrome are caused by changes (mutations) in the SMS gene. Thus far, 21 mutations are known although not all have been published. Since the gene resides on the X chromosome only males are affected. If the mother of a male with SRS carries the mutation, there is a 50% chance another son will have SRS and a daughter will be a carrier. The rate of new mutations appears to be low as only a single case exists in which the mother of the boy with SRS was not a carrier.

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Affected populations

Snyder-Robinson syndrome is a rare X-linked intellectual disability disorder and as such it is difficult to estimate its prevalence. As SRS has been identified in patients located in the United States, South America and Europe, it is likely not restricted to any ethnic population geographical locale.

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Diagnosis

A diagnosis of Snyder-Robinson syndrome can be made based on the clinical presentation and confirmed by sequencing of the SMS gene. However, since SRS is a rare XLID condition, more likely the diagnosis is made after whole exome sequencing (WES) identifies a mutation in the SMS gene. Additionally, since at present only one mutation in SMS has appeared more than once, biochemical studies (SMS activity and cellular spermidine/spermine ratios) should be conducted to absolutely insure a proper diagnosis of SRS.

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Standard Therapies

Treatment

There is no treatment which effectively treats Snyder-Robinson syndrome. Initially, as SRS results from a lack of spermine being produced by cells within the body, it was thought spermine supplementation might treat the disorder. However, this approach has proved to be unsuccessful. Thus, treatment is directed towards alleviating some of the symptoms of SRS. Speech, physical, occupational therapies have been helpful but results have varied. Calcium supplementation to improve bone mineral density has been tried to counteract osteoporosis. Again, results have varied. Nonetheless, because of the osteoporosis and an increased risk for fractures, patients with SRS should be monitored regularly and calcium supplementation should be initiated once decreased bone mineral density is observed. Treatment of seizures can be attempted with various drugs. However, success with any one drug has been variable and some seizures have been refractory to treatment.

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Clinical Trials and Studies

Presently there are no current clinical trials. However, this may change in the future.

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. Government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Tollfree: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website: https://rarediseases.org/living-with-a-rare-disease/find-clinical-trials/

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
www.centerwatch.com

For information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact:
https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/

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References

JOURNAL ARTICLES
Larcher L, Norris JW, Lejeune E, et al. The complete loss of function of the SMS gene results in a severe form of Snyder-Robinson. Eur J Med Genet. 2019 Sep 30:103777. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.103777. [Epub ahead of print]

Peng Y, Norris J, Schwartz C, et al. Revealing the effects of missense mutations causing Snyder-Robinson syndrome on the stability and dimerization of spermine synthase. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016;17: 77.

Abela L, Simmons L, Steindl K, et al. N8-acetylspermidine as a potential plasma biomarker for Snyder-Robinson syndrome identified by clinical metabolomics. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2016;39:131-137.

Albert JS, Bhattacharyya N, Wolfe LA, et al. Impaired osteoblast and osteoclast function characterize the osteoporosis of Snyder-Robinson syndrome.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2013;10:27.

Peron A, Spaccini L, Norris J, Bova SM, Selicorni A, Weber G, Wood T, Schwartz CE, and Mastrangelo M. Snyder-Robinson syndrome: a novel nonsense mutation in spermine synthase and expansion of the phenotype. Am. J. Med. Genet. 2013; A 161:2316-2320.

Zhang Z, Norris J, Kalscheuer V, Wood T, Wang L, Schwartz C, Alexov E, and Van Esch H. A Y328C missense mutation in spermine synthase causes a mild form of Snyder-Robinson syndrome. Hum. Mol. Genet.2013;22:3789-3797.

Sowell J, Norris J, Jones K, Schwartz C, and Wood T. Diagnostic screening for spermine synthase deficiency by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Clin. Chim. Acta 2011;412: 655-660.

Becerra-Solano LE, Butler J, Castañeda-Cisneros G, et al. A missense mutation, p.V132G, in the X-linked spermine synthase gene (SMS) causes Snyder-Robinson syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 2009 Mar;149A(3):328-35.

deAlencastro G, McCloskey DE, Kliemann Se, et al. New SMS mutation leads to a striking reduction in spermine synthase protein function and a severe form of Snyder–Robinson X-linked recessive mental retardation syndrome. BMJ 2008;45 (8).

Cason AL, Ikeguchi Y, Skinner C, Wood TC, Lubs HA, Martinez F, Simensen RJ, Stevenson RE, Pegg AE, and Schwartz C. E. X-linked spermine synthase gene (SMS) defect: the first polyamine deficiency syndrome. Eur. J. Human Genet. 2003;11: 937-944.

INTERNET
Albert J, Schwartz CE, Boerkoel CF, et al. Snyder-Robinson Syndrome. 2013 Jun 27. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2020. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144284/ Accessed January 15, 2020.

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