home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0410
/
04109.txt
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
9KB
|
222 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK04109}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Pierre Robin Syndrome}
$Subject{Pierre Robin Syndrome Robin Syndrome Pierre Robin Anomalad Robin
Anomalad Pierre Robin Sequence Robin Sequence Pierre Robin Complex
Cerebro-Costo-Mandibular Syndrome Stickler Syndrome Treacher Collins Syndrome}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
651:
Pierre Robin Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Pierre Robin 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
Robin Syndrome
Pierre Robin Anomalad
Robin Anomalad
Pierre Robin Sequence
Robin Sequence
Pierre Robin Complex
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Cerebro-Costo-Mandibular Syndrome
Stickler Syndrome
Treacher Collins Syndrome
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.
Pierre Robin Syndrome is characterized by a combination of three
features, possibly due to the underdevelopment of the lower jaw. The lower
jaw is abnormally small (micrognathia), the tongue is displaced downwards
(glossoptosis), and there is an abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth
(cleft soft palate).
Symptoms
Pierre Robin Syndrome is characterized by an unusually small jaw
(micrognathia), downward displaced tongue (glossoptosis), and cleft soft
palate.
The placement of the tongue may obstruct normal breathing. If Pierre
Robin infants have problems breathing, they may fail to thrive, have
difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), and stop breathing temporarily. If
this occurs, their skin might develop a bluish or purplish color due to a
decrease of oxygen in the blood (cyanosis) which may deprive the brain of its
normal oxygen supply. Pierre Robin infants may vomit and develop sleep
disturbances that may persist into adulthood. Problems in breathing may lead
to lung malfunction and enlargement of part of the heart (cor pulmonale),
high blood pressure in the lung's arteries (pulmonary hypertension), and
possibly lead to congestive heart failure.
Causes
The causes of Pierre Robin Syndrome are diverse since it can occur by itself
or as a symptom of another disorder.
Pierre Robin Syndrome appearing with no underlying disorder may be
inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. (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 for the same trait 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.)
Pierre Robin Syndrome may also result from mechanical constraint of the
fetus in the womb, e.g., the chin may be compressed in such a way as to limit
its normal development.
Recent research suggests that the development of Pierre Robin Syndrome
may also be influenced by drugs taken by a woman during pregnancy.
Affected Population
Pierre Robin Syndrome affects males and females in equal numbers. Less
commonly it occurs as a feature in a multiple defect disorder such as Trisomy
18 Syndrome, Stickler Syndrome, or a number of other syndromes.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Pierre Robin
Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Stickler Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder inherited as a dominant
trait. Eye defects including nearsightedness (myopia), teeth and bone
abnormalities, deafness, and a flat face are characteristic of Stickler
Syndrome. It is also characterized by the features of Pierre Robin Syndrome:
unusually small lower jaw (micrognathia), downward placed tongue
(glossoptosis), and cleft soft palate. (For more information on this
disorder, choose "Stickler" as your search term in the Rare Disease
Database).
Cerebro-Costo-Mandibular Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder
characterized by the features of Pierre Robin Syndrome plus rib and chest
cavity (thorax) defects. There may be feeding, breathing, and speech
difficulties. Occasionally, an unusually small head, mental retardation,
abnormally placed fifth fingers, and bone abnormalities also occur. (For
more information on this disorder, choose "Cerebro-Costo-Mandibular" as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Treacher Collins Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by
deformities in the jaw and ears with deafness, cleft palate, and unusually
slanted eyes. There may be difficulty in breathing due to a narrow airway.
(For more information on this disorder, choose Treacher Collins as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
Therapies: Standard
Pierre Robin Syndrome can be detected while the fetus is still in the womb
using ultrasound imaging.
Infants with Pierre Robin Syndrome should be observed closely for
breathing difficulties. Several methods of intervention are available to
help the infant to breathe. A tube may be inserted in the infant's throat
(intubation) or a surgical opening may be made into the trachea through the
neck (tracheostomy) to assist the infant in breathing.
Doctors may wait to see if the palate closes by itself in a few years
before deciding to surgically correct the cleft soft palate. Surgery to
improve the appearance of the jaw may also be recommended.
Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families.
Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
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 Pierre Robin Syndrome, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
FACES
National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped
P.O. Box 11082
Chattanooga, TN 37401
(615) 266-1632
National Craniofacial Foundation
3100 Carlisle Street, Suite 215
Dallas, TX 75204
1-800-535-3643
A Cleft Palate Team is a group of specialists who are primarily
interested in the care of children having clefts. For information about
local teams, contact:
Prescription Parents (for cleft palate)
P.O. Box 426
Quincy, MA 02269
(617) 479-2463
American Cleft Palate Cranial Facial Association
1218 Granview Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15211
(412) 681-1376
(800) 24CLEFT
NIH/National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHHD)
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, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. Pp. 1138-1139.
SMITH'S RECOGNIZABLE PATTERNS OF HUMAN MALFORMATION, 4th ed.: K.L. Jones;
W.B. Saunders Company, 1988. Pp. 196-199.
GLOSSOPTOSIS-APNEA SYNDROME IN INFANCY: F. Cozzi and A. Pierro;
Pediatrics (May, 1985: issue 75(5)). Pp. 836-843.
THE PIERRE ROBIN SYNDROME REASSESSED IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT RESEARCH:
J.R. Edwards and D.R. Newall; Br J Plast Surg (July, 1985: issue 38(3)). Pp.
339-342.