Congenital heart disease is a common finding in patients with microdeletion of chromosome 22q11. To determine if the deletion is an epidemiologically important cause of congenital heart disease, we studied a consecutive series of children attending a paediatric cardiac clinic and of neonates diagnosed as having structural congenital heart disease. Venous blood samples were tested by fluorescent in-situ hybridisation analysis for microdeletion of chromosome 22q11 using probe D22S75. Each patient was examined for the other clinical features associated with microdeletion of chromosome 22q11, and any family history of congenital heart disease recorded. Of 151 families approached, 111 participated and a fluorescent in-situ hybridisation result achieved in 87. One patient with microdeletion of chromosome 22q11 was identified; the clinical features were those of DiGeorge syndrome. Two patients with CHARGE association, two with nasal speech, ten with high arched palate, and 15 with minor facial dysmorphic features had no deletion.
Conclusion: Microdeletion of chromosome 22q11 detected by probe D22S75 is rare in this consecutive series of patients with structural congenital heart disease.