Down Syndrome - Pt 1 Flashcards
what is the pathology behind down syndrome
extra 21st chromosome
- trisomy 21
what are the 3 mechanisms leading to the extra 21st chromosome seen in down syndrome
- NON-DISJUNCTION: failure of 21st chromosome to separate (95% of cases)
- TRANSLOCATION: long arm of #21 attached to another chromosome
- MOSAICISM: some but not all cells have defect
- ie some cells display the trisomy 21 and some don’t
what was Down the first to describe down syndrome as
relative to clinical presentation
what is the significance of someone with down syndrome d/t a mosaicism mechanism
these individuals might not present with all the clinical features of down syndrome seen in other mechanisms
what inc the risk of a child being born with down syndrome
inc maternal age
why has the survival rate inc from 50% in the 90s to 95% in the 2000s (2)
early detection & prenatal dx
- EI and healthcare
greater normalization in society
- better health, higher autonomy, community integration and dec institutionalization
what are prenatal diagnostic methods to screen for down syndrome (4)
amniocentesis
chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
ultrasound
percutaneous umbilical cord sampling
how is CVS sampling utilized as a diagnostic method for down syndrome
contains lots of rapidly dividing fetal cells
- do a chromosome analysis
when can a CVS sampling be taken
early (~8wks)
how is ultrasound utilized as a diagnostic tool
look for thickening of nuchal cord
screen for CHD and heart defects
- down syndrome pop has inc risk of CHD
what is another name for percutaneous umbilical cord sampling and what is a consideration of its usage
cordocentesis
very risky
what two diagnostic test which dec risk of fetal death
amnio
CVS
what is a diagnostic toll used after birth
screen for distinctive features
- then do a chromosomal analysis
what is a consideration of the presentation of down syndrome
despite everyone having similar features, everyone can have a different unique presentation bc of unique genetic makeup
what role gene therapy play in the medical management of people with down syndrome
growing research
- able to correct DS cells in vitro
ethical questions as to whether they should just because we now can
what are the 2 main categories of clinical presentation
- phenotype (observable traits)
- systems
what are phenotype characteristics of people with down syndrome (5)
- short neck, excess skin
- flattened face and nose
- small head, ears, mouth
- upward slanting eyes
- brushfield spots
why do you see excess skin at the back of pts with down syndrome’s necks
thickened nuchal fold
what are brushfield spots
white spots on colored part of eye
describe how patients with down syndrome usually present with their eye shape
upward slanting
- often skin fold comes out from upper eyelid and covers inner corner of eye
what are general growth/maturation phenotypes
small stature
not all segments equally grow/mature
how is growth/maturation assessed in pts with DS
specific growth charts for people with DS
what are specific characteristics of the growth and maturation of someone w DS (5)
- relatively short legs, but not trunk
- hands and feet - short/stubby
- underdeveloped middle phalanx of 5th finger
- crease in middle of palm
- deep groove in between 1st and 2nd toe
describe skeletal maturity characteristics of someone w DS
slower rate than those w/o DS
- esp in early childhood
- speeds up to be only mildly slower with age
what are 3 likely reasons for an inc incidence of obesity in DS
could be genetic
reduced activity (motor ability, motivation)
family
what are systems that can have impairments in DS (8)
hearing
leukemia
thyroid
obstructive sleep apnea
cardiac
GI
MSK
CNS
how is hearing impaired in DS
high prevalence of ear infections and conductive loss
- inc w aging (significantly more than people w ID and not DS)
recommendations for hearing loss in DS
ABR (auditory brainstem response) starting at 6mo
what phenotype can impact hearing
shape of face impacts hearing
what thyroid dysfunction is seen in DS
underactive (hypothyroidism)
when and how is the obstructive sleep apnea seen in DS managed
referral for sleep tests starting at 4yo
what type of congenital heart defects can be seen in DS
atrial-septal
ventriculo-septal
how can congenital heart defects in DS manifest if not noted right away
early fatigue
poor color