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- $Unique_ID{BRK04330}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Wieacker Syndrome}
- $Subject{Wieacker Syndrome Wieacker-Wolff Syndrome WWS Contractures of Feet
- Muscle Atrophy Oculomotor Apraxia Apraxia Oculomotor with Congenital
- Contractures Muscle Atrophy Apraxia }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 824:
- Wieacker Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Wieacker 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
-
- Wieacker-Wolff Syndrome
- WWS
- Contractures of Feet, Muscle Atrophy, and Oculomotor Apraxia
- Apraxia, Oculomotor, with Congenital Contractures and Muscle Atrophy
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Apraxia
-
- 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.
-
- Wieacker Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by deformities
- of the feet (contracture), muscle atrophy, mild mental retardation and
- impairment of the ability to move the eyes, face and tongue muscles despite
- the wish to do so.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Symptoms of Wieacker Syndrome include deformities of the feet (contracture),
- slowly progressive atrophy of certain muscles, and mild mental retardation.
- Other symptoms are impairment or inability to move the eyes despite the wish
- to do so, and impairment in the use of face and tongue muscles. Wieacker
- Syndrome affects males and is present at birth.
-
- Causes
-
- Wieacker Syndrome is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait. 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.
-
- X-linked recessive disorders are conditions which are coded on the X
- chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, but males have one X chromosome
- and one Y chromosome. Therefore, in females, disease traits on the X
- chromosome can be masked by the normal gene on the other X chromosome. Since
- males only have one X chromosome, if they inherit a gene for a disease
- present on the X, it will be expressed. Men with X-linked disorders transmit
- the gene to all their daughters, who are carriers, but never to their sons.
- Women who are carriers of an X-linked disorder have a fifty percent risk of
- transmitting the carrier condition to their daughters, and a fifty percent
- risk of transmitting the disease to their sons.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Wieacker Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder present at birth which affects
- males.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Wieacker
- Syndrome. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Apraxia is a disorder of brain function characterized by the inability to
- perform learned movement on command, even though the command is understood
- and there is a willingness to perform the movement. The affected individual
- has the physical ability to move, but can not. Apraxia is caused by a lesion
- in the neural pathways of the brain that contain the learned patterns of
- movement. It is often a symptom of other neurological disorders. (For more
- information on this disorder, choose "Apraxia" as your search term in the
- Rare Disease Database).
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients with Wieacker Syndrome and
- their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Physical
- therapy, surgery, speech therapy, and special education can be of benefit
- especially if started as early as possible.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Researchers believe that Wieacker Syndrome originates from the long arm of
- the X chromosome. Genetic studies and research on this disorder are ongoing.
- Detection of the female carrier condition may be possible in some instances.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- February 1991. 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 Wieacker Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- 203) 746-6518
-
- The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Information Clearinghouse
- Box AMS
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 495-4484
-
- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5751
- (800) 352-9424
-
- 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, 9th Ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1990. Pp. 1732.
-
- A NEW X-LINKED SYNDROME WITH MUSCLE ATROPHY, CONGENITAL CONTRACTURES, AND
- OCULOMOTOR APRAXIA. P. Wieacker, et al.; Am J Med Genet (Apr 1985; issue 20
- (4)). Pp. 597-606.
-
- CLOSE LINKAGE OF THE WIEACKER-WOLFF SYNDROME TO THE DNA SEGMENT DXYS IN
- PROXIMAL Xq. P. Wieacker, et al.; Am J Med Genet (Sept 1987; issue 28 (1)).
- Pp. 245-253.
-
-