DOOR syndrome: clinical report, literature review and discussion of natural history

DOOR syndrome (deafness, onychodystrophy, osteodystrophy, and mental retardation) is a rarely described disorder with less than 35 reports in the literature. The hallmarks of the syndrome, represented in the DOOR acronym, include sensorineural hearing loss, hypoplastic or absent nails on the hands and feet, small or absent distal phalanges of the hands and feet, and mental retardation. The purpose of our communication is to report on an additional patient with DOOR syndrome, delineate common as well as less frequent manifestations of DOOR syndrome, bring attention to the under appreciated facial features in DOOR syndrome, document the natural history of this disorder, and propose a suggested workup of those suspected of DOOR syndrome. DOOR syndrome is associated with characteristic, coarse facial features with large nose with wide nasal bridge, bulbous tip and anteverted nares, a long prominent philtrum and downturned corners of the mouth. The natural history is one of a deteriorative course, with progressive neurological manifestations including sensorineural deafness, seizures from infancy, optic atrophy, and a peripheral polyneuropathy. The majority of patients with DOOR syndrome have elevated levels of 2-oxoglutarate in the urine and plasma. In this report, we present a newborn with manifestations consistent with DOOR syndrome and a progressive clinical course. A comprehensive literature review reveals 32 patients with DOOR syndrome. In conclusion, DOOR syndrome is a neurometabolic disorder with recognizable facial features and a progressive natural history.