Childhood overgrowth in patients with common NF1 microdeletions

While growth retardation and short stature are well-known features of patients with classical neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we found advanced height growth and accelerated carpal bone age in patients with an NF1 microdeletion. Our analysis is based on growth data of 21 patients with common 1.4/1.2Mb microdeletions, including three patients with a Weaver-like appearance. Overgrowth was most evident in preschool children (2-6 years, n = 10, P = 0.02). We conclude that childhood overgrowth is part of the phenotypic spectrum in patients with the common 1.4/1.2Mb NF1 microdeletions and assume that the chromosomal region comprised by the microdeletions contains a gene whose haploinsufficiency causes overgrowth.