Oral manifestations of Alagille syndrome

Abstract

Alagille syndrome (AGS) is a multisystem disorder classically involving liver and heart failure, characteristic vertebral and facial features and ocular abnormalities. AGS is caused by heterozygous mutations in JAG1 or NOTCH2, with variable phenotype penetrance. We report two cases of AGS in children with tooth defects characterised by green discolouration and hypomineralisation. The role of hyperbilirubinaemia (HB) in this atypical colour, a classical feature of AGS, has been well described. However, it does not totally explain the dental phenotype. As JAG1 and NOTCH2 mutations can affect bone development and considering common physiological pathways between bone and tooth mineralisation, both mutations could participate in this unusual dental phenotype. The role of HB and genetics in the development of the dental phenotype of AGS is discussed in two prototypical cases. Future research should focus on the underlying genetic component of tooth abnormalities.