Which syndrome_?

Karyotype of the baby was suggestive of Trisomy 13. Trisomy 13 or Patau syndrome was first observed by Erasmus Bartholin in 1657 but the chromosomal nature of the disease was ascertained by Klaus Patau in 1960. Incidence is seen more among females. {1} The frequency of this syndrome is 1:10000-15000 live births. {2} Median survival is fewer than 3 days. It is due to a non-disjunction of chromosomes during meiosis. Some are caused by Robertsonian translocations. The risk of this syndrome in the offspring increases with maternal age at pregnancy with about 31years being the average. {3} The presence of holoprosencephaly may cause early death {4}. Eighty-five percent do not survive beyond one year of life and most die before completing six months. {4} Patau syndrome is characterized by the following triad : microphthalmia, cleft lip and palate and polydactyly. The face may also have features like ocular hypotelorism, strabismus, iris coloboma, bulbous nose, micrognathia, hemangiomas. In our patient there was polydactyly, ocular hypotelorism, bulbous nose and micrognathia. {5} Structural limb abnormalities like polydactyly in the hand, rocker bottom feet and convex soles may be present. In our patient polydactyly and rocker bottom feet were present. Capillary hemangiomatas and polycystic kidneys or other renal malformations have been reported. Some patients of Patau syndrome may show cicatrical alopecia at occipital region representing scar due to imperfect closure of neural tube, best described as cutis aplasia. The observed cardiac malformations are ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. Survivors with Patau syndrome exhibit severe mental retardation and developmental delays and are at increased risk for malignancy. {5}

E-published: October 2011 Vol 8 Issue 10 Art No. 68

References :

Best RG. Patau syndrome. Available on website: emedicine.medscape.comperrticle, 947706-overview. Accessed on 9th June 2011 Carey JC. Chromosome disorders. In: Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM, Hostetter MK, Lister G, Siegel NJ, eds. Rudolph's Pediatrics. 21st ed. New York. Mc Graw-Hill. 2003: 731-742. Goel M, Rathore R. Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). Indian Pediatr. 2000; 37: 1140 Duarte AC, Menezes ALC, Devens ES, Roth JM, Garcias GL, Martino-Roth MG. Patau syndrome with a long survival. A case Report. Genetics and Molecular Research. 2004; 3: 288-292 Hall JG. Chromosomal Clinical Abnormalities. In: Kliegmam RM, Jenson HB, Behrman RE, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia. Saunders Elsevier. 2008.