22q11.2 duplication syndrome is a condition caused by an extra copy of a small piece of chromosome 22 which contains about 30 to 40 genes. The features of this condition vary widely, even among members of the same family (intrafamilial variability). Affected individuals may have intellectual or learning disability, developmental delay, slow growth leading to short stature, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia). Many people with the condition have no apparent physical or intellectual disabilities. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. While many affected people inherit the condition from a parent, others are affected due to having a new genetic change that occurs for the first time. In either case, the condition can be passed on to children. The duplication is not detectable by karyotype and most cases are identified by a technique known as chromosomal microarray.
Resource(s) for Medical Professionals and Scientists on This Disease:
RareSourceoffers rare disease gene variant annotations and links to rare disease gene literature.
About 22q11.2 duplication syndrome
Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD aims to provide the following information for this disease:
Population Estimate:This section is currently in development.
Symptoms:May start to appear at any time in life.
Cause:This is caused by changes in the way information is arranged into chromosomes.
Organizations:Patient organizations are available to help find a specialist, or advocacy and support for this specific disease.
Categories:Birth DefectGenetic Disease
When Do Symptoms of 22q11.2 duplication syndrome Begin?
Symptoms of this disease may start to appear at any time in life.
The age symptoms may begin to appear differs between diseases. Symptoms may begin in a single age range, or during several age ranges. The symptoms from some diseases may begin at any age. Knowing when symptoms began to appear can help medical providers find the correct diagnosis.
Prenatal Selected
Before Birth
Newborn Selected
Birth-4 weeks
Infant Selected
1-23 months
Child Selected
2-11 years
Adolescent Selected
12-18 years
Adult Selected
19-65 years
Older Adult Selected
65+ years
Symptoms may start to appear at any time in life.
Symptoms
The number and severity of symptoms experienced may differ among people with this disease. Your experience may be different from others, and you should consult your primary care provider for more information.
This list is not all-inclusive, but the following symptoms have been linked to this disease:
40 Symptoms
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Medical Term
Abnormality of the pharynx
Frequency
Uncommon
Frequent
Frequent
Always
Description
An anomaly of the pharynx, i.e., of the tubular structure extending from the base of the skull superiorly to the esophageal inlet inferiorly.
An anomaly of the pharynx, i.e., of the tubular structure extending from the base of the skull superiorly to the esophageal inlet inferiorly.
40 Symptoms
Causes
Chromosome Disorder
22q11.2 duplication syndrome is a chromosome disorder, which means it is caused by changes in the way information is arranged into chromosomes.
What Is a Chromosome?
Chromosomes are thread-like structures found inside the nucleus of human cells. Each chromosome is made of DNA, and DNA is passed from parents to their children.
Humans usually have 46 chromosomes. The first 22 pairs of chromosomes, called autosomes, are found in males and females. The 23rd pair comprises the sex chromosomes. Each parent passes on 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome to their offspring.
The cells in our bodies must constantly divide and produce new cells. Chromosomes play a key role in making sure DNA is copied and passed along during cell division. However, on rare occasions, mistakes do occur. These mistakes can lead to chromosome disorders.
Chromosomes are thread-like structures found inside the nucleus of human cells. Each chromosome is made of DNA, and DNA is passed from parents to their children.
Humans usually have 46 chromosomes. The first 22 pairs of chromosomes, called autosomes, are found in males and females. The 23rd pair comprises the sex chromosomes. Each parent passes on 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome to their offspring.
The cells in our bodies must constantly divide and produce new cells. Chromosomes play a key role in making sure DNA is copied and passed along during cell division. However, on rare occasions, mistakes do occur. These mistakes can lead to chromosome disorders.
All individuals inherit two copies of most genes. The number of copies of a gene that need to have a disease-causing variant affects the way a disease is inherited. This disease is inherited in the following pattern(s):
Autosomal Dominant Inheritance
Autosomal means the gene is located on any chromosome except the X or Y chromosomes (sex chromosomes). Genes, like chromosomes, usually come in pairs. Dominant means that only one copy of the responsible gene (causal gene) must have a disease-causing change (pathogenic variant) in order for a person to have the disease. Mutation is an older term that is still sometimes used to mean pathogenic variant.
In some cases, a person inherits the pathogenic variant from a parent who has the genetic disease. In other cases, the disease occurs because of a new pathogenic variant (de novo) in the causal gene and there is no family history of the disease.
Each child of an individual with an autosomal dominant disease has a 50% (1 in 2) chance of inheriting the variant and the disease. Typically, children who inherit a dominant variant will have the disease, but they may be more or less severely impacted than their parent. Sometimes a person may have a pathogenic variant for an autosomal dominant disease and show no signs or symptoms of the disease.Autosomal means the gene is located on any chromosome except the X or Y chromosomes (sex chromosomes). Genes, like chromosomes, usually come in pairs. Dominant means that only one copy of the responsible gene (causal gene) must have a disease-causing change (pathogenic variant) in order for a person to have the disease. Mutation is an older term that is still sometimes used to mean pathogenic variant.
In some cases, a person inherits the pathogenic variant from a parent who has the genetic disease. In other cases, the disease occurs because of a new pathogenic variant (de novo) in the causal gene and there is no family history of the disease.
Each child of an individual with an autosomal dominant disease has a 50% (1 in 2) chance of inheriting the variant and the disease. Typically, children who inherit a dominant variant will have the disease, but they may be more or less severely impacted than their parent. Sometimes a person may have a pathogenic variant for an autosomal dominant disease and show no signs or symptoms of the disease.
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Advocacy and Support Groups
How Can Patient Organizations Help?
Patient organizations can help patients and families connect. They build public awareness of the disease and are a driving force behind research to improve patients' lives. They may offer online and in-person resources to help people live well with their disease. Many collaborate with medical experts and researchers.
Services of patient organizations differ, but may include:
Ways to connect to others and share personal stories
Easy-to-read information
Up-to-date treatment and research information
Patient registries
Lists of specialists or specialty centers
Financial aid and travel resources
Please note: GARD provides organizations for informational purposes only and not as an endorsement of their services. Please contact an organization directly if you have questions about the information or resources it provides.
Clinical studies are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances, including rare diseases. Participating in research helps researchers ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human diseases.
What Are Clinical Studies?
Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:
Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.
How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?
To find the right clinical study we recommend you:
Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.
What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?
ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.
What Are Clinical Studies?
Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:
Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.
How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?
To find the right clinical study we recommend you:
Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.
What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?
ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
GARDGenetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
GARDGenetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
Learn about symptoms, cause, support, and research for a rare disease.
Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.
Find resources for patients and caregivers that address the challenges of living with a rare disease.
Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.
Data from Orphanet and Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) are used to provide information on a disease's symptoms, genes, inheritance, population estimates, and more.
