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- $Unique_ID{BRK03927}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Leopard Syndrome}
- $Subject{Leopard Syndrome Multiple Lentigines Syndrome Cardiomyopathic
- Lentiginosis }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 718:
- Leopard Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Leopard Syndrome) is
- not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
- alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Multiple Lentigines Syndrome
- Cardiomyopathic Lentiginosis
-
- 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.
-
- Leopard syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by small, dark spots
- on the skin (lentigines). Other symptoms such as EKG abnormalities,
- retardation of growth and deafness commonly occur. Intelligence is usually
- unaffected.
-
- The name "leopard" is composed of the first letters of the symptoms most
- commonly associated with this disorder. The "L" represents lentigenes, the
- "E" electrocardiogram abnormalities, the "O" ocular hypertelorism (wide
- spacing of the eyes), the "P" pulmonary stenosis, the "A" anomalies of the
- genital organs, the "R" retarded growth and the "D" deafness.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Leopard syndrome is most visibly characterized by small, dark spots on the
- skin which are unrelated to exposure to the sun and are potentially malignant
- (lentigines). These "lentigines", which resemble freckles, range between 1
- and 5mm in size and are usually spread across the neck and torso. They tend
- to increase with age.
-
- Individuals with Leopard syndrome commonly have other symptoms including
- an abnormal narrowing of the opening between the pulmonary artery adjacent to
- the right ventricle of the heart (pulmonary stenosis), a chronic disorder of
- the heart muscle (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy), mild growth
- deficiency, excessively wide spacing between the eyes, prominent ears, winged
- shoulder blades, undescended testicles in males (cryptorchidism) and late
- onset of adolescence.
-
- Occasionally people with leopard syndrome have an impairment of the sense
- of smell, a missing or underdeveloped kidney and/or deafness.
-
- Causes
-
- Leopard syndrome is inherited as an autosomal dominant characteristic. Human
- traits, including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the
- interaction of two genes, one received from the father and one from the
- mother. In dominant disorders a single copy of the disease gene (received
- from either the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating" the other
- normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The risk of
- transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is fifty percent
- for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Leopard syndrome affects males and females in equal numbers.
-
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Genetic counseling may be of benefit for leopard syndrome patients and their
- families. Surgery may correct such problems as undescended testicles and
- certain heart abnormalities. A dermatologist should carefully monitor skin
- symptoms in order to identify possible malignancies. Other treatment is
- symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- December 1989. 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 Leopard Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5133
-
- For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
-
- 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, 8th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1986. Pp. 455-456.
-
- SMITH'S RECOGNIZABLE PATTERNS OF HUMAN MALFORMATION, 4th ed: Kenneth
- Lyons Jones, M.D.; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 470-471.
-
-