Clinical features of 149 patients with facio-auriculo-vertebral spectrum.

Facio-Auriculo-Vertebral (FAV) spectrum, also known as Goldenhar syndrome or first and second branchial arch syndrome, is a complex of mainly craniofacial and vertebral anomalies. Microtia is a principal malformation in this complex; it can be unilateral or bilateral. We performed an observational, retrospective, transverse descriptive clinical study, reviewing 149 records of patients with a diagnosis of microtia treated in the Genetics Department. There was no significant difference in the sex of the individuals involved. The mean age was 6.97 years, with a range of 1 to 52 years. We founded positive inbreeding in 14 patients and consanguinity in 1 case. There was a family history of microtia in 37 cases. The most frequent malformations, besides microtia, were facial, costo-vertebral, limb, cardiac, genital, eye and other defects. Patients had a high percentage of family history, which could suggest an autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance.