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Cat Eye Syndrome

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Synonyms of Cat Eye Syndrome
  • CES
  • Chromosome 22, Inverted Duplication (22pter-22q11)
  • Chromosome 22, Partial Tetrasomy (22pter-22q11)
  • Chromosome 22, Partial Trisomy (22pter-22q11)
  • Schmid-Fraccaro Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions



General Discussion
Cat eye syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder that may be evident at birth. Individuals with a normal chromosomal make-up have two 22nd chromosomes, both of which have a short arm, known as 22p, and a long arm, called 22q. However, in individuals with cat eye syndrome, the short arm and a small region of the long arm of chromosome 22 (i.e., 22pter-22q11) are present three or four times (trisomy or tetrasomy) rather than twice in cells of the body.

The name "cat eye syndrome" is derived from a distinctive eye (ocular) abnormality that is present in some affected individuals. This feature consists of partial absence of ocular tissue (coloboma), often affecting both eyes (bilateral). Affected ocular tissues may include the colored region (iris), the middle layer (choroid), and/or the nerve-rich innermost membrane (retina) of the eye.

Associated symptoms and findings may vary greatly in range and severity, including among affected members of the same family. While some may have few or mild manifestations that may remain unrecognized, others may have the full spectrum of malformations. However, in many cases, characteristic features of the disorder include mild growth delays before birth; mild mental deficiency; and malformations of the skull and facial (craniofacial) region, the heart, the kidneys, and/or the anal region.

More specifically, individuals with cat eye syndrome frequently have coloboma(s), downslanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), widely spaced eyes (ocular hypertelorism), and/or other ocular defects; misshapen ears with abnormal outgrowths of skin and small depressions in front of the outer ears (preauricular tags and pits); and/or absence (atresia) of the anal canal, with an abnormal passage (fistula) from the end portion of the large intestine (rectum) into abnormal locations (e.g., the bladder, vagina, or perineum). Additional features may commonly include variable congenital heart (cardiac) defects, kidney (renal) abnormalities, skeletal defects, and/or other physical findings.
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Organizations related to Cat Eye Syndrome
  • American Council of the Blind
    2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
    Arlington VA 22201
    Phone #: 202-467-5081
    800 #: 800-424-8666
    e-mail: mailman@acb.org
    Home page: http://www.acb.org/
  • American Heart Association
    7272 Greenville Avenue
    Dallas TX 75231-4596
    Phone #: 214-373-6300
    800 #: 800-242-8721
    e-mail: Review.personal.info@heart.org
    Home page: http://www.americanheart.org
  • American Liver Foundation
    75 Maiden Lane
    Suite 603
    New York NY 10038
    Phone #: 212-668-1000
    800 #: 800-465-4837
    e-mail: info@liverfoundation.org
    Home page: http://www.liverfoundation.org
  • Children's Liver Disease Foundation
    36 Great Charles Street
    Birmingham Intl B3 3JY
    Phone #: +44- (0-) 121 212 3839
    800 #: --
    e-mail: info@childliverdisease.org
    Home page: http://www.childliverdisease.org
  • Chromosome 22 Central
    338 Spruce Street North
    Timmins
    Ontario Intl P4N 6N5
    Phone #: 705--26-8-3099
    800 #: --
    e-mail: steph.stpierre@c22c.org
    Home page: http://www.c22c.org
  • Chromosome Disorder Outreach, Inc.
    P.O. Box 724
    Boca Raton FL 33429-0724
    Phone #: 561-395-4252
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: info@chromodisorder.org
    Home page: http://www.chromodisorder.org
  • Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
    PO Box 8126
    Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
    Phone #: 301-251-4925
    800 #: 888-205-2311
    e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
    Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
  • International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
    P.O. Box 170864
    Milwaukee WI 53217
    Phone #: 414-964-1799
    800 #: 888-964-2001
    e-mail: iffgd@iffgd.org
    Home page: http://www.iffgd.org
  • MAGIC Foundation
    6645 W. North Avenue
    Oak Park IL 60302
    Phone #: 708-383-0808
    800 #: 800-362-4423
    e-mail: mary@magicfoundation.org
    Home page: http://www.magicfoundation.org
  • MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
    150 Custer Court
    Green Bay WI 54301-1243
    Phone #: 920-336-5333
    800 #: 877-336-5333
    e-mail: mums@netnet.net
    Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
  • Madisons Foundation
    PO Box 241956
    Los Angeles CA 90024
    Phone #: 310-264-0826
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
    Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
  • NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
    2 Information Way
    Bethesda MD 20892-3570
    Phone #: 301-654-3810
    800 #: 800-891-5389
    e-mail: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
    Home page: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
  • NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
    P.O. Box 30105
    Bethesda MD 20824-0105
    Phone #: 301-592-8573
    800 #: --
    e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
    Home page: N/A
  • National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
    P.O. Box 317
    Watertown MA 02471
    Phone #: 617-972-7441
    800 #: 800-562-6265
    e-mail: napvi@perkins.org
    Home page: http://www.napvi.org
  • National Center for Chromosome Inversions
    282 SE Anastasia Street
    Lake City FL 32025-1730
    Phone #: 386-752-1548
    800 #: --
    e-mail: ncfci@msn.com
    Home page: N/A
  • UNIQUE - Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group
    P.O. Box 2189
    Caterham
    Surrey Intl CR3 5GN
    Phone #: 44 -0 1-883 330766
    800 #: --
    e-mail: info@rarechromo.org
    Home page: http://www.rarechromo.org

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Last modified Wednesday, November 26, 2008