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$Unique_ID{BRK03588}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{CHARGE Association}
$Subject{CHARGE Association Choanal Atresia, Posterior PCA Coloboma, Heart
Anomaly, Choanal Atresia, Retardation, Genital and Ear Anomalies. Congenital
Heart Diseases, including Atrio-Septal or Ventriculo-Septal Defects}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
Inc.
550:
CHARGE Association
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (CHARGE Association) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
find alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Choanal Atresia, Posterior
PCA
Coloboma, Heart Anomaly, Choanal Atresia, Retardation, Genital and Ear
Anomalies.
The following disorders may be associated with CHARGE Association as
secondary characteristics:
Congenital Heart Diseases, including Atrio-Septal or Ventriculo-Septal
Defects
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
CHARGE Association is a very rare disorder characterized by a variety of
symptoms. At least four of the following six characteristics are necessary
for the diagnosis of CHARGE Association: (1) Absence of some eye tissue,
including the iris (Coloboma); (2) Heart disease; (3) Absence of the opening
between the nasal cavity and the back of the throat (Atresia of the choanae);
(4) Retarded growth and development and central nervous system abnormalities;
(5) underdevelopment of the Genitals; (6) Ear abnormalities and loss of
hearing. The first initials of Coloboma, Heart, Atresia, Retardation,
Genitals and Ear, compose the word CHARGE.
Approximately 75% of males with CHARGE Association have an abnormally
small penis and a lack of development of the testicle, which may result in an
inadequate secretion of pituitary hormone.
Symptoms
CHARGE Association is characterized by a variety of inborn abnormalities.
The presence of at least four of the six most common abnormalities is
required for diagnosis of CHARGE Association.
Coloboma:
Coloboma is a term referring to the absence of some eye tissue, including
the colored circle around the eye's pupil (iris) or in the optic nerve.
Heart:
About 80% of patients with this disorder have inborn heart disease,
characterized by developmental abnormalities in the large artery (aorta)
(e.g., patent ductus arteriosus) which normally carries blood from the heart
to other parts of the body or in the heart (e.g., ventricular septal defect).
the nasal cavity and the back of the throat (choana).
Retardation:
Retarded growth and development can occur as well as central nervous
system abnormalities.
Genitals:
Sex organs may be underdeveloped.
Ears:
Abnormally short wide ears with other distinctive abnormalities may
develop. Sometimes the shape of the right and left ears may differ. Hearing
may be impaired to various degrees, ranging from mild to severe loss of
hearing.
Causes
CHARGE Association is, in some cases, a hereditary disorder transmitted
through autosomal recessive genes. In some studies this disorder was found
to occur in more than one member of a family. (Human traits including the
classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for
that condition, one received from the father and one from the mother. In
recessive disorders, the condition does not appear unless a person inherits
the same defective gene from each parent. If one receives one normal gene
and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease,
but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of transmitting the disease to
the children of a couple, both of whom are carriers for a recessive disorder,
is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of their children will be carriers,
but healthy as described above. Twenty-five percent of their children will
receive both normal genes, one from each parent and will be genetically
normal.)
Affected Population
CHARGE Association is a very rare disorder affecting only approximately 200
persons in the United States. The disorder affects twice as many females as
males.
Related Disorders
The following disorders may be associated with CHARGE Association as
secondary characteristics. They are not necessary for a differential
diagnosis:
Congenital Heart Diseases characterized by an abnormal opening in the
dividing wall between the heart chambers (atrio-septal or ventriculo-septal
defects) can cause serious abnormalities in heart function. These defects
can occur alone as well as in association with other birth defects including
CHARGE Association.
Therapies: Standard
Diagnosis of CHARGE Association is confirmed when at least four of the six
main characteristics of this disorder are identified in a patient. Surgical
repair of the defects in the dividing walls between heart chambers or in the
aorta and/or its arch as well as some of the other abnormalities, can be
beneficial. A full heart evaluation is recommended for all children with
coloboma and/or choanal atresia, in whom CHARGE Association is a possible
diagnosis. Heart specialists should evaluate patients with defects in the
big arteries just outside the heart (conotruncal or aortic arch defects), and
abnormalities in other parts of the body for the possible diagnosis of CHARGE
Association.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through August
1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on CHARGE Association, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
CHARGE Syndrome Booklet
Quota Club
2004 Parkade Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65202
NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 496-5133
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. Pp. 887-888.
THE PATTERN OF CARDIOVASCULAR MALFORMATION IN CHARGE ASSOCIATION: A.E.
Lin, et al.; American Journal Dis Child (September 1987: issue 141(9)). Pp.
1010-1013.
THE CHARGE ASSOCIATION. HOW WELL CAN THEY DO? E. Goldson, et al.;
American Journal Dis Child (September 1986: issue 140(9)). Pp. 918-921.
FAMILIAL CHARGE SYNDROME: CLINICAL REPORT WITH AUTOPSY FINDINGS: L.A.
Metlay, et al.; American Journal Med Genet (March 1987: issue 26(3)). Pp.
577-581.