(L.A.) Catherine Saenz, a Baby, Died at a Residence

Case Number: 2021-11878

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a Hispanic female that occurred at her residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the infant girl as Catherine Saenz of Downey.

Manner of Death: Natural

Cause of Death: Sequelae of Achondroplasia with Reported FGFR3 De Novo Pathogenic Variant

Other Significant Conditions: Positive for Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus by Polymerase Chain Reaction

RIP CATHERINE SAENZ (June 9, 2021 – October 26, 2021)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 5:25 p.m.

The child was about four and a half months old.

Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed skeletal dysplasia, primarily caused by gain-of-function mutations in the FGFR3 gene. The most common mutation is the p.G380R variant, which accounts for about 98% of cases. When a de novo pathogenic variant in FGFR3 occurs, it can lead to severe manifestations of achondroplasia.