What is Trisomy 18?
Q: What is Trisomy 18?
A: Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a genetic disorder where affected individuals have three copies of chromosome 18 instead of the normal two copies.
Q: Who is John H. Edwards?
A: John H. Edwards is the person after whom Trisomy 18 is named. He first described the syndrome in 1960.
Q: How common is Trisomy 18?
A: Trisomy 18 affects about one in 3,000 live births.
Q: What are some common health complications associated with Trisomy 18?
A: People with Trisomy 18 often have heart abnormalities, kidney malformations, and other internal organ disorders.
Q: What is the survival rate of babies with Trisomy 18?
A: About 95% of babies with Trisomy 18 die before they are born. About half of all babies born with the condition will reach two months of age, and only 5-10% will survive for a year. The median life span is five to fifteen days.
Q: What proportion of children born with Trisomy 18 live to age ten?
A: One percent of children born with Trisomy 18 live to age ten, typically in cases of the less severe mosaic Edwards syndrome.
Q: Does the incidence of Trisomy 18 increase with the mother's age?
A: Yes, the incidence of Trisomy 18 increases as the mother's age increases.
