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Cri du chat syndrome   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Chromosome 5p deletion syndrome; 5p minus syndrome; Cat cry syndrome

Definition:

A group of findings that result from missing a piece of chromosome number 5. The syndrome’s name is based on the infant’s cry, which is high pitched and sounds like a cat.

Causes and Risks

The cri du chat syndrome is caused by the deletion of information on chromosome 5. The cause of this rare chromosomal deletion is not known, but it is expected that the majority of cases are due to spontaneous loss of a piece of chromosome 5 during development of an egg or sperm.  A minority of cases result from one parent carrying a rearrangement of chromosome 5 called a translocation.  Between 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 50,000 babies are affected.  This disease may account for up to 1% of individuals with severe mental retardation.  Infants with cri du chat syndrome commonly have a distinctive cat-like cry. They also have an extensive grouping of abnormalities with severe mental retardation being the most important.

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