Bardet-Biedl syndrome

Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome and Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet redirect here. See below for an explanation.

The Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a a syndrome characterized mainly by obesity, pigmentary retinopathy, polydactyly, mental retardation, hypogonadism, and renal failure in fatal cases.

The syndrome is named after Georges Bardet and Arthur Biedl.

Two forms have been identified:

• Bardet-Biedl syndrome 1 (BBS1) has no linkage to chromosome 16
• Bardet-Biedl syndrome 2 (BBS2) is mapped to markers on chromosome 16.

Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome and Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrome are no longer considered as valid terms in that patients of Laurence and Moon had paraplegia but no polydactyly and obesity which are the key elements of the Bardet-Biedl the syndrome. Laurence-Moon syndrome is a separate entity.

Major Features:

• Eyes: Pigmentary retinopathy.
• Hand and foot: Polydactyly.
• Cardiovascular system: Hypertrophy of interventricular septum and left ventricle and dilated cardiomyopathy.
• Gastrointestinal system: Fibrosis.
• Urogenital system: Hypogonadism, renal failure, urogenital sinuses, ectopic urethra, uterus duplex, septate vagina, and hypoplasia of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
• Growth and development: Mental and growth retardation.
• Behavior and performance: Poor visual acuity and blindness.
• Heredity: The syndrome is familial and is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Chromosome 3 locus appears to be linked to polydactyly of all four limbs, whereas chromosome 15 is associated with early-onset morbid obesity and is mostly confined to the hands, and chromosome 16 represents the "leanest" form.
• Additional features: Obesity.