PATAU’S AND EDWARDS’ SYNDROMES28 Jun 2014 19:14
This shows the need for early detection, as taken from Support Organisation for Trisomy 13/18:
PATAU’S AND EDWARDS’ SYNDROMES
Trisomy 13 was named Patau’s Syndrome after the doctor who identified the chromosomes responsible in 1960, and trisomy 18 or Edwards’ syndrome was named after Dr John Edwards for the same reason.
Trisomy 13 and 18 births occur about once in every 1,800 pregnancies and are the most common autosomal trisomies after trisomy 21, which is also known as Down syndrome. Trisomy 13 affects equal numbers of boys and girls whereas babies with trisomy 18 are three times more likely to be girls.
In the 12 months April 2008 to April 2009 there were 172 diagnoses of Patau’s and 495 diagnoses of Edwards’ syndrome. 91% of Patau’s and 92% of Edwards syndrome diagnoses were made prenatally, and 65% of Patau’sand 68% of Edwards’ pregnancies were terminated. It is estimated that there were 18 live births with Patau’s syndrome and 37 live births with Edwards’ syndrome. (National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register Annual Reports 2008/09 - data are provisional).