Definition

Aarskog syndrome is a rare genetic disorder. It causes short stature and specific facial, limb, and genital features.

Causes

Aarskog syndrome is an inherited disorder. It is caused by a gene mutation in the faciogenital dysplasia 1 gene (FDG1) on the X chromosome. It is passed from mothers to male children. Female children can be affected by a milder form of the disease.

Risk Factors

Those at risk of inheriting Aarskog syndrome are male children of mothers who carry the gene for it.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of Aarskog syndrome are:

• Short stature
• Abnormalities of the head and face, including:
  • Rounded face
  • Wide-set eyes
  • Slightly slanted eyes
  • Drooping eyelids
  • Small nose
  • Front-facing nostrils
  • Underdeveloped mid-portion of the face
  • Wide groove above the upper lip
  • Crease below the lower lip
  • Folding of the top portion of the ear
  • Delay in growing teeth
  • In some cases, cleft lip or palate

Other symptoms may include:

• A deformed scrotum
• Undescended testicles
• Small, wide hands and feet
• Short fingers and toes
• Mild webbing of fingers and toes, or crease in palm of hand
• Mildly sunken chest
• Navel that sticks out
• Hyperextension of the knees
• Intellectual disabilities

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. The diagnosis of Aarskog syndrome is usually based on facial characteristics. It can be confirmed with genetic tests. X-rays of the face and skull can also be used to help make a diagnosis.

Treatment

There is no known cure for Aarskog syndrome. Treatment is limited to surgical procedures to treat conditions caused by the disorder and supportive treatment. Orthodontic treatment is often needed.

Treatment may include:

Prevention

There is no known way to prevent Aarskog syndrome. If you have Aarskog syndrome or have a family history of the disorder, you can talk with a genetic counselor when deciding to have children.

Researchers have located abnormalities in the FGD1 gene in people with this syndrome. Genetic testing for mutations in this gene is available.

National Organization for Rare Disorders http://rarediseases.org

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Aarskog syndrome. National Organization for Rare Disorders website. Available at:
http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/aarskog-syndrome
Accessed May 29, 2014.

Cleft lip and palate. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed
Updated August 17, 2012. Accessed May 29, 2014.

Orrico A, Galli L, Faivre L, Clayton-Smith J, et al. Aarskog–Scott syndrome: Clinical update and report of nine novel mutations of the FGD1 gene. Am J Med Genet. Part A 152A(2):313–318.

Pasteris NG, Nagata K, Hall A, Gorski J. Isolation, characterization and mapping of mouse Fgd3 gene, a new faciogenital dysplasia (FGD1; Aarskog Syndrome) gene homologue. Gene. 2000;242(1-2):237-247.