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Alstrom syndrome

Synonyms
Alstrom's syndrome
Modes of inheritance
Autosomal recessive inheritance (Orphanet)

Summary

Excerpted from the GeneReview: Alström Syndrome
Alström syndrome is characterized by cone-rod dystrophy, obesity, progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment, acute infantile-onset cardiomyopathy and/or adolescent- or adult-onset restrictive cardiomyopathy, insulin resistance / type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and chronic progressive kidney disease. Cone-rod dystrophy presents as progressive visual impairment, photophobia, and nystagmus usually starting between birth and age 15 months. Many individuals lose all perception of light by the end of the second decade, but a minority retain the ability to read large print into the third decade. Children usually have normal birth weight but develop truncal obesity during their first year. Sensorineural hearing loss presents in the first decade in as many as 70% of individuals and may progress to the severe or moderately severe range (40-70 db) by the end of the first to second decade. Insulin resistance is typically accompanied by the skin changes of acanthosis nigricans, and proceeds to T2DM in the majority by the third decade. Nearly all demonstrate hypertriglyceridemia. Other findings can include endocrine abnormalities (hypothyroidism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males, and hyperandrogenism in females), urologic dysfunction / detrusor instability, progressive decrease in renal function, and hepatic disease (ranging from elevated transaminases to steatohepatitis/NAFLD). Approximately 20% of affected individuals have delay in early developmental milestones, most commonly in gross and fine motor skills. About 30% have a learning disability. Cognitive impairment (IQ <70) is very rare. Wide clinical variability is observed among affected individuals, even within the same family.
Full text of GeneReview (by section):
Summary
Diagnosis
Clinical Characteristics
Genetically Related (Allelic) Disorders
Differential Diagnosis
Management
Genetic Counseling
Resources
Molecular Genetics
References
Chapter Notes
Authors:
Richard B Paisey
Rick Steeds
Tim Barrett
view full author information

Available tests

92 tests are in the database for this condition.

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Clinical tests (92 available)

Biochemical Genetics Tests

Molecular Genetics Tests

Genes See tests for all associated and related genes

  • Also known as: ALSS, ALMS1
    Summary: ALMS1 centrosome and basal body associated protein

Clinical features

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Imported from Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)

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