What is trisomy 13 Patau syndrome in detail?

Patau’s syndrome is a serious rare genetic disorder caused by having an additional copy of chromosome 13 in some or all of the body’s cells. It’s also called trisomy 13. Each cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, which carry the genes you inherit from your parents.

What causes Patau syndrome trisomy 13?

Causes. Most cases of trisomy 13 result from having three copies of chromosome 13 in each cell in the body instead of the usual two copies. The extra genetic material disrupts the normal course of development, causing the characteristic features of trisomy 13.

Can babies with trisomy 13 survive?

Clinical Course and Life Expectancy It is hard to predict how long a child with Trisomy 13 will live. Half of babies born with Trisomy 13 live longer than two weeks and fewer than 10% will survive the first year of life. Approximately 13% survive until 10 years of age.

What is trisomy 13 in pregnancy?

Trisomy 13 happens when there is an extra copy of chromosome 13 in either the egg or the sperm before conception. This means that the baby will have three copies of chromosome 13 instead of two. The extra chromosome can cause differences in the way a baby develops. Most often, trisomy 13 happens by chance.

How can you prevent trisomy 13?

Researchers don’t know how to prevent the chromosome errors that cause these disorders. There is no reason to believe a parent can do anything to cause or prevent trisomy 13 or 18 in their child. If you are younger than 35, the risk of having a baby with trisomy 13 or 18 goes up slightly each year as you get older.

Can Patau syndrome be cured?

There is no definitive treatment for Patau’s syndrome. As it cannot be cured, the treatment is usually based on the symptoms that ail the baby.

What organs are affected by trisomy 13?

Condition Description Individuals with trisomy 13 often have heart defects, brain, or spinal cord abnormalities. Babies may be small at birth and have characteristic facial appearance along with poor muscle tone.