Trisomy 13, also called Patau syndrome, is a genetic disorder associated with the presence of extra material from chromosome 13.

Trisomy 13 occurs when extra DNA from chromosome 13 appears in some or all of the body's cells.

• Trisomy 13 -- the presence of an extra (third) chromosome 13 in all of the cells.
• Trisomy 13 mosaicism -- the presence of an extra chromosome 13 in some of the cells.
• Partial trisomy -- the presence of a part of an extra chromosome 13 in the cells.

The extra material interferes with normal development.

Trisomy 13 occurs in about 1 out of every 10,000 newborns. Most cases are not passed down through families (inherited). Instead, the events that lead to Trisomy 13 occur in either the sperm or the egg that forms the fetus.

• Cleft lip or palate
• Close-set eyes -- eyes may actually fuse together into one
• Decreased muscle tone
• Extra fingers or toes (polydactyly)
• Hernias: umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia
• Hole, split, or cleft in the iris (coloboma)
• Low-set ears
• Mental retardation, severe
• Scalp defects (absent skin)
• Seizures
• Single palmar crease
• Skeletal (limb) abnormalities
• Small eyes
• Small head (microcephaly)
• Small lower jaw (micrognathia)
• Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism)

The infant may have a single umbilical artery at birth. There are often signs of congenital heart disease, such as:

• Abnormal placement of the heart toward the right side of the chest instead of the left
• Atrial septal defect
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Ventricular septal defect

Gastrointestinal x-rays or ultrasound may show rotation of the internal organs.

MRI or CT scans of the head may reveal a problem with the structure of the brain. The problem is called holoprosencephaly. It is the joining together of the two sides of the brain.

Chromosome studies show trisomy 13, trisomy 13 mosaicism, or partial trisomy.

Medical management of children with Trisomy 13 is planned on a case-by-case basis and depends on the individual circumstances of the patient.

Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders (SOFT) -- www.trisomy.org

Living with Trisomy 13 -- www.livingwithtrisomy13.org

The syndrome involves multiple abnormalities, many of which are not compatible with life. More than 80% of children with trisomy 13 die in the first month.

Complications begin almost immediately. Congenital heart disease is present in approximately 80% of infants with Trisomy 13. Complications may include:

• Breathing difficulty or lack of breathing (apnea)
• Deafness
• Feeding problems
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Vision problems

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have had a child with Trisomy 13, and you plan to have another child.

Trisomy 13 can be diagnosed prenatally by amniocentesis with chromosome studies of the amniotic cells.

Parents of infants with trisomy 13 caused by a translocation should have genetic testing and counseling, which may help them prevent recurrence.