Health care concerns and guidelines for adults with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of mental retardation in North America, yet little information is available on the natural history of DS in adults. We report on significant medical problems of adults with DS (DS adults) residing in a British Columbia provincial residential center, Woodlands, over the 12-year period from 1981 through 1992. Prospective, yearly health care reviews on 38 DS adults are summarized according to age. Group 1 consists of 18 middle-aged DS adults less than 50 years old, and group 2 comprises 20 elderly DS adults 50 years and older. Significant health problems in all DS adults include untreated congenital heart anomalies (15. 8%), acquired cardiac disease (15.8%), pulmonary hypertension (7.8%), recurrent respiratory infections/aspiration leading to chronic pulmonary interstitial changes (30%), complications from presenile dementia/Alzheimer-type disease (42%), adult-onset epilepsy (36.8%), osteoarthritic degeneration of the spine (31.6%), osteoporosis with resultant fractures of the long bones (55%) or vertebral bodies (30%), and untreated atlantooccipital instability (7.9%). Acquired sensory deficits are significant problems including loss of vision due to early onset of adult cataracts (50%), recurrent keratitis (21%) or keratoconus (15.8%), and significant hearing loss (25%). Behavioral problems (50%), loss of cognitive abilities, and onset of symptoms of Alzheimer disease (group 1: 5.5%; group 2: 75%) pose ongoing challenges for care. In conclusion, the quality of life for adults with DS can be improved by routine, systematic health care screening to identify treatable diseases that may be missed because of poor communication or confusion due to Alzheimer disease.

Additional case of craniofacial and digital anomalies as reported by Harrod et al.

In 1977 Harrod et al. [BD:OAS XIII (3B): 111-115] reported 2 brothers with an unusual syndrome of mental retardation, unusual facial appearance, large protruding ears, arachnodactyly, hypogenitalism, failure to thrive, and minor anomalies. We report on a 46-year-old man with striking resemblance to the children described by Harrod who also has secondary megacolon and varicose veins, suggesting a connective tissue disorder.

Mixed sclerosing bone dysplasia, small stature, seizure disorder, and mental retardation: a syndrome?

We present a 40-year-old man with mental retardation, short stature, minor anomalies, and seizures, who was found to have osteopoikilosis with melorheostosis (mixed sclerosing bone dysplasia, MSBD). Cytogenetic findings of a low level trisomy 8 mosaicism were not confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of fibroblast cells. To our knowledge, the association of MSBD and mental retardation has not been previously reported.

Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome: case report.

The oculocerebrofacial syndrome was described from siblings of both sexes in 1971 by Kaufman. A 12-year-old child with a set of corresponding malformations is described. This would suggest that the original report did not describe a "private" syndrome.