Moebius syndrome
Möbius syndrome | |
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Other names | Moebius |
A child with oromandibular-limb hypogenesis-Möbius syndrome. Notice the expressionless face (due to bilateral VII nerve palsies) and missing fingers. | |
Specialty | Medical genetics |
Möbius syndrome or Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital neurological disorder which is characterized by facial paralysis and the inability to move the eyes from side to side. Most people with Möbius syndrome are born with complete facial paralysis and cannot close their eyes or form facial expressions. Limb and chest wall abnormalities sometimes occur with the syndrome. People with Möbius syndrome have normal intelligence, although their lack of facial expression is sometimes incorrectly taken to be due to dullness or unfriendliness. It is named for Paul Julius Möbius, a German neurologist who first described the syndrome in 1888.[1] In 1994, the "Moebius Syndrome Foundation" was founded, and later that year the first "Moebius Syndrome Foundation Conference" was held in Los Angeles.[2]
Signs and symptoms
People with Möbius syndrome are born with facial paralysis and the inability to move their eyes laterally. Often, their upper lip is retracted due to muscle shrinkage.[3] Occasionally, the cranial nerves V and VIII are affected.[4]
Other symptoms that sometimes occur with Möbius syndrome are:[citation needed]
- Limb abnormalities—clubbed feet, missing fingers or toes
- Chest-wall abnormalities (Poland syndrome)
- Crossed eyes (strabismus)
- Difficulty in breathing and/or in swallowing
- Corneal erosionresulting from difficulty in blinking
Children with Möbius syndrome may have delayed speech because of paralysis of muscles that move the lips, soft palate and tongue root. However, with speech therapy, most people with Möbius syndrome can develop understandable speech.
Social and lifestyle effects
Möbius syndrome does not prevent individuals from experiencing personal and professional success.[7] Due to the importance of facial expression and smiling in social interaction, the inability to form either can lead to individuals with Möbius being perceived as unhappy, unfriendly or uninterested in conversations.[8] Individuals who are familiar with Möbius patients such as family or friends can recognize other signals of emotion such as body language, to the point that they sometimes report forgetting that the person has facial paralysis.[9] Indeed, people with Möbius syndrome are often adept at compensating for a lack of expression by using body language, posture, and vocal tone to convey emotion.[10]
Pathogenesis
Möbius syndrome results from the underdevelopment of the VI and VII cranial nerves.[4]
The causes of Möbius syndrome are poorly understood. It is thought to result from a vascular disruption (temporary loss of blood flow) in the brain during prenatal development.
The use of drugs and a traumatic pregnancy may also be linked to the development of Möbius syndrome. The use of the drugs misoprostol or thalidomide by women during pregnancy has been linked to the development of Möbius syndrome in some cases. Misoprostol is used to induce abortions in Brazil and Argentina as well as in the United States. Misoprostol abortions are successful 90% of the time, meaning that 10% of the time the pregnancy continues. Studies show that the use of misoprostol during pregnancy increases the risk of developing Möbius syndrome by a factor of 30. While this is a dramatic increase in risk, the incidence of Möbius syndrome without misoprostol use is estimated at one in 50,000 to 100,000 births (making the incidence of Möbius syndrome with misoprostol use, less than one in 1,000 births).[11][12] The use of cocaine (which also has vascular effects) has been implicated in Möbius syndrome.[13]
Oral/dental concerns
Neonatal
When a child is born with Möbius syndrome, there may be difficulty in closing the mouth or swallowing. The tongue may
Primary dentition
The
Transitional dentition
Between age 5 and 7, most children start losing their primary teeth. Occasionally, some primary teeth are slow to exfoliate (fall out), and the dentist may want to remove a primary tooth early to prevent
Permanent dentition
After the last primary tooth is lost, usually around the age of twelve, final orthodontic treatment can be initiated. A patient that has not been able to close or swallow well probably will have an open bite, deficient lower-jaw growth, a narrow archform with crowded teeth, and upper anterior flaring of teeth. Orthognathic (jaw) surgery may be indicated.
Genetic links to 13q12.2[14] and 1p22[15] have been suggested.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is typically made by the physical characteristics and symptoms, patient history and a thorough clinical evaluation. There is no specific diagnostic test that confirms Möbius syndrome. Some specialised tests may be carried out to rule out other causes of
Treatment
There is no single course of medical treatment or cure for Möbius syndrome. Treatment is supportive and in accordance with symptoms. If they have difficulty nursing, infants may require feeding tubes or special bottles to maintain sufficient nutrition. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy can improve motor skills and coordination and can lead to better control of speaking and eating abilities. Often, frequent lubrication with eye drops is sufficient to combat dry eye that results from impaired blinking. Surgery can correct crossed eyes, protect the
Epidemiology
It is estimated that there are, on average, 2 to 20 cases of Möbius syndrome per million births.[17][18] Although its rarity often leads to late diagnosis, infants with this disorder can be identified at birth by a "mask-like" lack of expression that is detectable during crying or laughing and by an inability to suck while nursing because of paresis (palsy) of the sixth and seventh cranial nerves.
Society and culture
Literature and media with mentions of Möbius syndrome include:[citation needed]
- The protagonist of the novel Painted by Eliza Wyatt and Christian Leffler has Möbius syndrome.
- In the second season of Scream Queens, Daira Janessen (Riley McKenna Weinstein), also known as Chanel 8, has Möbius syndrome.
- In “The Adventure of the Man Who Never Laughed”, a story written by John H. Watson, M.D./discovered by J. N. Williamson, and collected in Holmes For The Holidays, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, Jon L. Lellenberg and Carol-Lynn Waugh (Berkley Prime Crime, 1996), a missing person has Möbius syndrome.
- In The Good Doctor (season 1, episode 17, "Smile" released March 19, 2018) patient Gretchen seeks elective surgery for Möbius syndrome.
References
- ^ Möbius, P. J. (1888). "Ueber angeborene doppelseitige Abducens-Facialis-Lahmung". Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift. 35: 91–4.
- ^ "Mission and History". Moebius Syndrome Foundation. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
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- ^ "Moebius Syndrome - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved 2018-03-16.
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