De Novo mutation of FOXF1 causes alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins: A case report

Rationale: Alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of the pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV) is a rare congenital malformation in neonates that results in severe respiratory distress and pulmonary hypertension. ACD/MPV is caused by mutations in the FOXF1 gene. Herein, a new case of a girl with ACD/MPV carrying a novel pathogenic variant of FOXF1 was reported. Patient concerns: A 3-month-old Chinese girl was admitted to the hospital presenting a complaint of cyanosis for 10 days and respiratory distress for 2 days. The history of foreign body inhalation was denied. Diagnoses: Blood routine, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, type B natriuretic peptide, electrocardiogram, cardiac computed tomography (CT), and echocardiography were done after admission. Dysplasia of the alveolar and the left upper pulmonary vein was displayed through cardiac CT. Echocardiography showed atrial septal defect, tricuspid valve malformation, and pulmonary hypertension. Sequence analysis of FOXF1 from genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) revealed that the patient was heterozygous for a novel missense variant (c.418 C>T, p.Pro140Gly). Furthermore, genetic analysis of both parents confirmed the de novo occurrence of the variant. Conservation analysis showed that the locus was highly conserved across species. Then, ACD/MPV was a clinical diagnosis. Interventions: After admission, nasal catheter oxygen inhalation, cefazoxime sodium, furosemide diuretic, milrinone lactate, and Bosentan were given to the patient. Outcomes: After 6 days of hospitalization, the patient's condition did not improved, the parents gave up treatment and discharged. The patient died half a month after discharge. Lessons: ACD/MPV is a rare congenital malformation with a poor prognosis. A new de novo mutation of FOXF1 was found in our case. Non-invasive methods such as DNA sequencing and FOXF1 analysis are helpful in the clinical diagnosis of ACD/MPV especially in early infants with respiratory distress and pulmonary hypertension.