Aarskog syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Aarskog syndrome is a disease that affects a person's height, muscles, skeleton, genitals, and appearance. It is passed down through families (inherited).

T Causes
P Aarskog syndrome is a genetic disorder that is linked to the X chromosome. It affects mainly males, but females may have a milder form. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in a gene called "faciogenital dysplasia" (FGD1).

T Symptoms
P Symptoms of this condition include:
- Belly button that sticks out
- Bulge in the groin or scrotum
- Delayed sexual maturity
- Delayed teeth
- Downward palpebral slant to eyes (palpebral slant is the direction of the slant from the outer to inner corner of the eye)
- Hairline with a "widow's peak"
- Mildly sunken chest
- Mild to moderate mental problems
- Mild to moderate short height which may not be obvious until the child is 1 to 3 years old
- Poorly developed middle section of the face
- Rounded face
- Scrotum surrounds the penis (shawl scrotum)
- Short fingers and toes with mild webbing
- Single crease in the palm of the hand
- Small, broad hands and feet with short fingers and curved-in fifth finger
- Small nose with nostrils tipped forward
- Testicles that have not come down (undescended)
- Top portion of the ear folded over slightly
- Wide groove above the upper lip, crease below the lower lip
- Wide-set eyes with droopy eyelids

T Exams and Tests
P These tests may be done:
- Genetic testing for mutations in the FGD1 gene
- X-rays

T Treatment
P Moving the teeth may be done to treat some of the abnormal facial features a person with Aarskog syndrome may have.

T Support Groups
P The MAGIC Foundation for Children's Growth is a support group for Aarskog syndrome: www.magicfoundation.org.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P Some people may have some mental slowness, but children with this condition often have good social skills. Some males may have problems with fertility.

T Possible Complications
P These complications can occur:
- Changes in the brain
- Difficulty growing in the first year of life
- Poorly aligned teeth
- Seizures
- Undescended testicles

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your health care provider if your child has delayed growth or if you notice any symptoms of Aarskog syndrome. Seek genetic counseling if you have a family history of Aarskog syndrome. Contact a genetic specialist if your provider thinks you or your child may have Aarskog syndrome.

T Prevention
P Genetic testing may be available for people with a family history of the condition or a known mutation of the gene that causes it.

T Alternative Names
P Facial-digital-genital syndrome

T Images
- The face
- Pectus excavatum

T References
P Jones KL, Jones MC, Del Campo M. Moderate short stature, facial and genital. In: Jones KL, Jones MC, Del Campo M, eds. Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap D.

T Review Date 10/27/2015
P Updated by: Chad Haldeman-Englert, MD, FACMG, Fullerton Genetics Center, Asheville, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

