Trisomy

A trisomy is when there are three copies of a chromosome. Normally in humans there is only two copies of any given chromosome. The most notable condition is Trisomy 21 syndrome which is better known as Down Syndrome, a form of developmental genetic disorder.

Treatment for Trisomy


 The majority of trisomy 13 patients die soon after birth. However, 5-10% of them live beyond one year. In extremely rare cases, patients have survived well into their teens. Although life expectancy is difficult to predict for trisomy 13 patients, the associated defects are not always fatal and treatment may be available. Due to the multi-symptomatic nature of trisomy 13, treatment should be tailored to the specific problems displayed by each individual case.
Children with trisomy 13 require assistance with feeding, as difficulty with swallowing (dysphagia) is reported in a number of survivors. Parents may seek advice from dysphagia clinics in how to assist with feeding. Though some patients may be fed orally, others may be fed through tubes inserted through the nose, mouth, or abdomen. Patients fed through tubes may progress to oral feeding, and some children are fed both orally and through tubes.