Trisomy 18
How does Edwards' syndrome happen?
Edwards' syndrome is rarely inherited and the condition is not caused by anything the parents have done.
The development of three copies of chromosome 18 usually happens randomly during the formation of eggs and sperm. There is an error in the division of cells, and the extra chromosome iseither inthe egg cell produced by the mother or in the sperm cell produced by the father.
Asthis happens randomly, it's extremely unlikely for parents to have more than one pregnancy affected by Edwards' syndrome.
The chance of having a baby with Edwards' syndrome increases with the mother's age.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Edwards' syndrome, also known as trisomy 18, is a serious genetic condition caused by an additional copy of chromosome 18 in some or all of the cells in the body.
What are the features and symptoms?
Babies with Edwards' syndrome can have a wide range of different problems. Physical signs of Edwards' syndrome include: a small, abnormally shaped head a small jaw and mouth long fingers that ove
How does Edwards' syndrome happen?
Edwards' syndrome is rarely inherited and the condition is not caused by anything the parents have done. The development of three copies of chromosome 18 usually happens randomly during the formation
Types of Edwards' syndrome
There are two main types of Edwards' syndrome. Full form Approximately 94% of babies with Edwards' syndrome will have thefull form, where every cell in their body has three copies of chromosome 18,
Testing for Edwards' syndrome during pregnancy
Pregnant women are offered screening for Edwards syndrome between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy to assess the chances of their baby having the condition. The screening test, known as the combined test
Information about your child
If your child hasEdwards' syndrome, your clinical team will pass information about him or her on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scient
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