MedGen

The ductus arteriosus is a muscular artery connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta during fetal life, shunting blood away from the lungs. It normally occludes shortly after birth. Failure of ductal closure results in PDA, one of the most common congenital heart defects, affecting 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 5,000 full-term infants and constituting 5% to 7% of all congenital heart defects (summary by Mani et al., 2005). PDA can be an isolated anomaly or occur in association with other congenital anomalies (summary by Khetyar et al., 2008). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of isolated PDA, see PDA1 (607411). [from OMIM]

Char syndrome is characterized by the triad of typical facial features, patent ductus arteriosus, and aplasia or hypoplasia of the middle phalanges of the fifth fingers. Typical facial features are depressed nasal bridge and broad flat nasal tip, widely spaced eyes, downslanted palpebral fissures, mild ptosis, short philtrum with prominent philtral ridges with an upward pointing vermilion border resulting in a triangular mouth, and thickened (patulous) everted lips. Less common findings include other types of congenital heart defects, other hand and foot anomalies, hypodontia, hearing loss, myopia and/or strabismus, polythelia, parasomnia, craniosynostosis (involving either the metopic or sagittal suture), and short stature. [from GeneReviews]