Description

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual deficit and distinct facial dysmorphic features. Prevalence of AS is estimated to be 1/10,000 to 1/20,000 worldwide. Different genetic mechanisms may cause Angelman syndrome, such as deletion of the 15q11.2-q13 critical region (60-75%), paternal uniparental disomy (2-5%), imprinting defect (2-5%) and mutation in the UBE3A gene (10%). In the first 6 months of the neonatal period, feeding difficulties and hypotonia may occur, followed by developmental delay between 6 months and 2 years of age. Generally from 1 year of age, the typical features of AS develop: severe intellectual deficit, absent speech, outbursts of laughter with hand flapping, microcephaly, macrostomia, maxillary hypoplasia, prognathia and neurological problems with a puppet-like gait, ataxia and epileptic seizures with specific electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities.

External Information

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