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Trisomy 13 Syndrome

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Synonyms of Trisomy 13 Syndrome
  • Chromosome 13, Trisomy 13 Complete
  • Complete Trisomy 13 Syndrome
  • D Trisomy Syndrome
  • Patau Syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions



General Discussion
Trisomy 13 Syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder in which all or a portion of chromosome 13 appears three times (trisomy) rather than twice in cells of the body. In some affected individuals, only a percentage of cells may contain the extra 13th chromosome (mosaicism), whereas other cells contain the normal chromosomal pair.

In individuals with Trisomy 13 Syndrome, the range and severity of associated symptoms and findings may depend on the specific location of the duplicated (trisomic) portion of chromosome 1, as well as the percentage of cells containing the abnormality. However, in many affected infants and children, such abnormalities may include developmental delays, profound mental retardation, unusually small eyes (microphthalmia), an abnormal groove in the upper lip (cleft lip), incomplete closure of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate), undescended testes (cryptorchidism) in affected males, and extra (supernumerary) fingers and toes (polydactyly). Additional malformations of the head and facial (craniofacial) area may also be present, such as a relatively small head (microcephaly) with a sloping forehead; a broad, flat nose; widely set eyes (ocular hypertelorism); vertical skin folds covering the eyes; inner corners (epicanthal folds); scalp defects; and malformed, low-set ears. Affected infants may also have incomplete development of certain regions of the brain (e.g., the forebrain); kidney (renal) malformations; and structural heart (cardiac) defects at birth (congenital). For example, characteristic heart defects may include an abnormal opening in the partition dividing the upper or lower chambers of the heart (atrial or ventricular septal defects) or persistence of the fetal opening between the two major arteries (aorta, pulmonary artery) emerging from the heart (patent ductus arteriosus). Many infants with Trisomy 13 Syndrome fail to grow and gain weight at the expected rate (failure to thrive) and have severe feeding difficulties, diminished muscle tone (hypotonia), and episodes in which there is temporary cessation of spontaneous berathing (apnea). Life-threatening complications may develop during infancy or early childhood.
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Organizations related to Trisomy 13 Syndrome
  • Arc
    1660 L Street, NW, Suite 301
    Washington DC 20036
    Phone #: 202-534-3700
    800 #: 800-433-5255
    e-mail: info@thearc.org
    Home page: http://www.thearc.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
  • Let Them Hear Foundation
    1900 University Avenue, Suite 101
    East Palo Alto CA 94303
    Phone #: 650-462-3143
    800 #: 877-735-2929
    e-mail: info@letthemhear.org
    Home page: http://www.letthemhear.org
  • Living With Trisomy 13
    15802 Springdale Street, #68
    Huntington Beach CA 92649
    Phone #: N/A
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: info@LivingWithTrisomy13.org
    Home page: http://www.livingwithtrisomy13.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
  • March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
    1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
    White Plains NY 10605
    Phone #: 914-997-4488
    800 #: 888-663-4637
    e-mail: Askus@marchofdimes.com
    Home page: http://www.marchofdimes.com
  • National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)
    The Teaching Research Institute
    Western Oregon University
    345 N. Monmouth Ave.
    Monmouth OR 97361
    Phone #: 800-438-9376
    800 #: 800-438-9376
    e-mail: info@nationaldb.org
    Home page: http://www.nationaldb.org
  • Perkins School for the Blind
    175 North Beacon St.
    Watertown MA 02472
    Phone #: 617-924-3434
    800 #: N/A
    e-mail: Info@Perkins.org
    Home page: http://www.Perkins.org
  • Support Organization for Trisomy 13/18 and Related Disorders, UK
    c/o Christine Rose
    48 Froggatts Ride
    Walmley
    Sutton Coldfield
    West Midlands Intl B76 2TQ SOFT
    Phone #: 012-1-3-51-3122
    800 #: --
    e-mail: enquiries@soft.org.uk
    Home page: http://www.soft.org.uk
  • Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13, and Related Disorders
    2982 South Union Street
    Rochester NY 14624-1926
    Phone #: N/A
    800 #: 800-716-7638
    e-mail: barbv@trisomy.org
    Home page: http://www.trisomy.org
  • 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