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- $Unique_ID{BRK04291}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Trisomy 13 Syndrome}
- $Subject{Trisomy 13 Syndrome Patau's Syndrome Trisomy 13-15 Syndrome D Trisomy
- Syndrome }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1986 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 218:
- Trisomy 13 Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Trisomy 13 Syndrome) is not
- the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
- find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Patau's Syndrome
- Trisomy 13-15 Syndrome
- D Trisomy 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.
-
-
- Trisomy 13 Syndrome is a genetic disorder which occurs in approximately 1
- in 5,000 live births. It is characterized by midline anomalies, gross
- defects of the brain, and cleft lip and/or cleft palate in most cases.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Infants affected with Trisomy 13 Syndrome tend to be small at birth. Spells
- of interrupted breathing (apnea) in early infancy are frequent, and mental
- retardation is usually severe. Many affected children appear to be deaf. A
- moderately small head (microcephaly) with sloping forehead, wide joints, and
- openings between the parietal bones of the head are present. Gross anatomic
- defects of the brain, especially failure of the forebrain to divide properly
- (holoprosencephaly), are common. A hernial protrusion of the cord and its
- meninges through a defect in the vertebral canal (myelomeningocele) is found
- in almost 50% of cases.
-
- The entire eye is usually small (microphthalmia), and a defect of the
- iris tissue (coloboma), and faulty development of the retina (retinal
- dysplasia) occur frequently. The supraorbital ridges are shallow and
- palpebral fissures are usually slanted. Cleft lip, cleft palate, or both are
- present in most cases. The ears are abnormally shaped and unusually low-set.
-
- A single transverse crease on the palm, extra fingers and toes
- (polydactyly), and hyperconvex narrow fingernails are common. The fingers
- tend to be flexed, but not in the characteristic manner seen in Trisomy 18
- Syndrome. The feet show posterior prominence of the heel, and there may be a
- rocker-bottom foot.
-
- Approximately 80% of cases show the following additional congenital
- anomalies:
-
- 1. An opening in the ventricular septum of the heart (ventricular septal
- defect)
-
- 2. Persistent blood vessel connecting the aorta to the pulmonary artery
- (patent ductus arteriosus)
-
- 3. An opening in the septum between the two atria in the heart (atrial
- septal defect)
-
- 4. Abnormalities in the pulmonary and/or aortic valves.
-
- (For more information on specific heart anomalies, see articles in the
- Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Location of the heart in the right side of the chest (dextrocardia) is
- common as well.
-
- Tumors made up of newly formed capillary blood vessels (capillary
- hemangiomas), especially on the forehead in the midline, may also be present.
- Other midline defects include dermal sinuses on the scalp and loose folds of
- skin over the back of the neck.
-
- The genitalia are frequently abnormal in both sexes. Failure of the
- testes to descend into the scrotum (cryptorchidism) and abnormally developed
- scrotum may occur in males. A uterus with horn-shaped branches (bicornuate)
- sometimes occurs in females.
-
- Hematologically, there is an increased frequency of nuclear projections
- in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a persistence of fetal hemoglobin.
-
- Causes
-
- An additional chromosome 13 causes the abnormalities of this genetic,
- developmental disorder, Trisomy 13 Syndrome.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Trisomy 13 Syndrome occurs in one in 5,000 live births. Males and females of
- all nationalities and races are affected equally.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Treatment for Trisomy 13 Syndrome is symptomatic and supportive. Special
- education, physical therapy and other medical, social, or vocational services
- are of benefit to the patient, and are often necessary for the child to reach
- his/her full potential.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- December 1988. 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 Trisomy 13 Syndrome, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- Support Organization for Trisomy 18/13 (SOFT 18/13)
- National Headquarters
- 4625 Lindell Blvd., Suite 501
- St. Louis, MO 63108
- (314) 367-0055
-
- S.O.F.T. Canada Inc.
- 1214 Concession 5 West
- RR2 Waterdown, Ontario LOR 2H2
- (416) 659-3216
-
- NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5133
-
- Association for Retarded Citizens of the U.S.
- P.O. Box 6109
- Arlington, TX 76005
- (817) 640-0204
- (800) 433-5255
-
- Mental Retardation Association of America
- 211 East 300 South, Suite 212
- Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- (801) 328-1575
-
- In Touch
- 10 Norman Road
- Sale, Cheshire
- M33 3DF
- Hants, England
-
- For information on genetics 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
-
- SMITH'S RECOGNIZABLE PATTERNS OF HUMAN MALFORMATION, 4th ed., Kenneth L.
- Jones, M.D., W.B. Saunders, Co. 1988. Pp. 20-5.
-
-