Filippi syndrome

Title

Other Names:

Syndactyly type I with microcephaly and mental retardation; Unusual facial appearance, microcephaly, growth and mental retardation and syndactyly

Categories:

Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Summary Summary

Filippi syndrome is an extremely rare genetic condition characterized by a small head (microcephaly), webbing of the fingers and toes (syndactyly), intellectual disability, growth delay, and distinctive facial features (high and broad nasal bridge, thin nostrils, small chin or micrognathia, and a high frontal hairline). Other features can include undescended testicles in males, extra fingers (polydactyly), as well as teeth and hair abnormalities. So far, less than 25 cases have been reported in the medical literature. This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. The exact underlying genetic cause is not known.^[1]^[2]

Last updated: 9/14/2011

Symptoms Symptoms

Filippi syndrome is characterized by growth delays before and after birth, a low birth weight, and short stature. Affected individuals are also born with abnormalities of the head and facial area (craniofacial abnormalities), resulting in a distinctive facial appearance. Affected infants typically have a small head (microcephaly), a high forehead, a broad bridge of the nose, thin nostrils, an abnormally thin upper lip, and widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism). Filippi syndrome is also characterized by mild to severe intellectual disability; some affected individuals may have abnormal language and speech development, potentially resulting in an inability to speak.^[3]^[2]

Abnormalities of the fingers and toes have also been reported. These may include webbing or fusion of the fingers and toes (syndactyly). The severity of the syndactyly may be variable, ranging from webbing of skin and other soft tissues to fusion of bone within the affected fingers or toes. Affected individuals can also have extra fingers and/or toes (polydactyly). In addition, the fingers and toes may appear unusually short (brachydactyly), particularly due to abnormalities of the bones within the hands and feet.^[3]^[2]

Some individuals may have additional physical abnormalities including delayed bone age, incomplete closure of the roof of the mouth (cleft palate), and a dislocated elbow. In some affected males, the testes may fail to descend into the scrotum (cryptorchidism). In one report, skin and teeth abnormalities were also noted.^[3]^[2]

Last updated: 9/14/2011

The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) provides the following list of features that have been reported in people with this condition. Much of the information in the HPO comes from Orphanet, a European rare disease database. If available, the list includes a rough estimate of how common a feature is (its frequency). Frequencies are based on a specific study and may not be representative of all studies. You can use the MedlinePlus Medical Dictionary for definitions of the terms below.

Signs and Symptoms	Approximate number of patients (when available)
Hypertrichosis	Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases)
Hypodontia	Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases)
Sparse hair	Occasional (present in 5%-29% of cases)
2-4 toe syndactyly	-
Autosomal recessive inheritance	-
Broad forehead	-
Cerebellar atrophy	-
Cryptorchidism	-
Decreased body weight	-
Dystonia	-
Intellectual disability	-
Intrauterine growth retardation	-
Microcephaly	-
Microdontia	-
Optic atrophy	-
Postnatal growth retardation	-
Proptosis	-
Seizures	-
Short philtrum	-
Single transverse palmar crease	-
Thin vermilion border	-
Underdeveloped nasal alae	-
Ventricular septal defect	-
Visual impairment	-
Wide nasal bridge	-

Last updated: 10/1/2017

Treatment Treatment

The treatment of Filippi syndrome is directed toward the specific symptoms that are apparent in each individual. Treatment may require the coordinated efforts of a team of medical professionals who may need to systematically and comprehensively plan an affected child's treatment. These professionals may include pediatricians; physicians who specialize in disorders of the skeleton, joints, muscles, and related tissues (orthopedists); and/or other health care professionals. In some affected individuals, treatment may include surgical repair of certain skeletal or other abnormalities associated with the disorder. The surgical procedures performed will depend upon the severity of the abnormalities, their associated symptoms, and other factors.^[3]

Last updated: 9/14/2011

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Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

AboutFace International
51 Wolseley Street
Toronto, ON M5T 1A4
Canada
Toll-free: 800-665-3223
Telephone: 416-597-2229
Fax: 416-597-8494
E-mail: info@aboutface.ca
Website: http://aboutface.ca/
Ameriface
PO Box 751112
Las Vegas, NV 89136
Toll-free: 888-486-1209
Telephone: 702-769-9264
E-mail: info@ameriface.org
Website: http://www.ameriface.org
FACES: The National Craniofacial Association
PO Box 11082
Chattanooga, TN 37401
Toll-free: 800-332-2373
Telephone: 423-266-1632
E-mail: faces@faces-cranio.org
Website: http://www.faces-cranio.org/

Do you know of an organization? Send us your suggestions.

Living With Living With

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Genetics Resources

To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by GeneTests, the American College of Medical Genetics, and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from Genetics Home Reference.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Filippi syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events

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Please could you send me any information you have on Filippi syndrome or let me know where I can obtain information on it? See answer

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References References

Filippi syndrome. Orphanet. April 2008; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/Disease_Search.php?lng=EN&data_id=2910. Accessed 9/14/2011.
Battaglia A, Filippi T, Pusceddu S, Williams CA. Filippi syndrome: further clinical characterization. Am J Med Genet A. 2008; 146A(14):1848-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18553552. Accessed 9/14/2011.
Filippi Syndrome. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). 2008; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/996/viewAbstract. Accessed 9/14/2011.

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