Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a disorder that affects many parts of the body, particularly the heart, face, skin, and hair. People with this condition also have developmental delay and intellectual disability, usually ranging from moderate to severe. The symptoms of CFC syndrome overlap significantly with those of two other conditions, Costello syndrome and Noonan syndrome. These syndromes belong to a group of related conditions called the RASopathies, which are distinguished by their genetic causes and specific pattern of features. It can sometimes be hard to tell these conditions apart in infancy. CFC syndrome is usually caused by a genetic change in the BRAF gene, but can also be due to a genetic change in the MAP2K1, MAP2K2 or KRAS gene. It is an autosomal dominant condition, but most cases are not inherited, due to a new genetic change that occursin the formation of the egg or sperm or shortly after fertilization.
Resource(s) for Medical Professionals and Scientists on This Disease:
RareSourceoffers rare disease gene variant annotations and links to rare disease gene literature.
GeneReviews provides scientific information on genetic diseases, including diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling.
About Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome
Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD aims to provide the following information for this disease:
Population Estimate:Fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S. have thisdisease.
Symptoms:May start to appear during Pregnancy and as a Newborn.
Cause:This disease is caused by a change in the genetic material (DNA).
Organizations:Patient organizations are available to help find a specialist, or advocacy and support for this specific disease.
When Do Symptoms of Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome Begin?
Symptoms of this disease may start to appear during Pregnancy and as a Newborn.
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
1-23 months
Child
2-11 years
Adolescent
12-18 years
Adult
19-65 years
Older Adult
65+ years
Symptoms may start to appear during Pregnancy and as a Newborn.
Symptoms
The types of symptoms experienced, and their intensity, may vary among people with this disease. Your experience may be different from others, and you should consult your primary care provider (PCP) for more information.
This list does not include all possible symptoms related to this disease, but they may include:
77 Symptoms
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Body Systems
Symptoms related to this disease may affect different systems of the body. Use the 'Filter and Sort' function to learn more about which body system(s) are affected by this disease and their associated symptom(s).
Medical Term
Abnormal eyelash morphology
Frequency
Uncommon
Very frequent
Very frequent
Always
Description
An abnormality of the eyelashes.
An abnormality of the eyelashes.
Synonym
Abnormal eyelashes; Abnormality of the eyelashes; Eyelash abnormality
Abnormal eyelashes; Abnormality of the eyelashes; Eyelash abnormality
77 Symptoms
Causes
Genetic Disease
Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome is a genetic disease, which means that it is caused by one or more genes not working correctly.
Disease-causing variants, or differences, in the following gene(s) are known to cause this disease: BRAF, KRAS, MAP2K1, MAP2K2
What Is a Gene?
Understanding what genes are and how changes in genes may affect the body can help you on the journey to diagnosis and treatment of a genetic disease.
Genes are part of our DNA, the basic genetic material found in each of our body's cells. Cells are the building blocks of all living things and specialized cells form our body's organs and tissues. DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell and, in humans, is packaged into 23 pairs of chromosomes with the help of special proteins.
Each gene performs a different job in our cells. Some genes serve as the instructions to make proteins. Proteins are needed for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Some genes can turn other genes on or off. Others make RNA molecules that are involved in chemical reactions in the body.
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.
Learn more about the different types of clinical studies, consent forms, questions you should ask before participating in clinical studies, and the difference between research and medical treatment.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.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.
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Read Less
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. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
Available toll-free Monday through Friday from 12 pm to 6 pm Eastern Time (Except: Federal Holidays)
Use the contact form to send your questions to a GARD Information Specialist.
Please allow 2 to 10 business days for us to respond.
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. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
Data from Orphanet and Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) are used to provide information on a disease's symptoms, genes, inheritance, population estimates, and more.
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