Edwards syndrome (also known as Trisomy 18 (T18)) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. This genetic condition almost always results from nondisjunction during meiosis. It is named after John H. Edwards, who first described the syndrome in 1960. It is the second most common autosomal trisomy, after Down syndrome, that carries to term.
Edwards syndrome occurs in around one in 6,000 live births and around 80 percent of those affected are female. The majority of fetuses with the syndrome die before birth. The incidence increases as the mother's age increases. The syndrome has a very low rate of survival, resulting from heart abnormalities, kidney malformations, and other internal organ disorders.
Read more about Edwards Syndrome: Signs and Symptoms, Genetics, Prognosis, Epidemiology
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