Stickler Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Stickler Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Arthro-Ophthalmopathy
Epiphyseal Changes and High Myopia
Ophthalmoarthropathy
Weissenbacher-Zweymuller Syndrome
Hereditary Arthro-Ophthalmopathy

Disorder Subdivisions

Stickler syndrome type I
Stickler syndrome type II

General Discussion

Stickler syndrome refers to a group of disorders of the connective tissue that affect multiple organ systems of the body such as the eyes, skeleton, inner ear, and/or the head and face. Connective tissue, which is the material between cells of the body that gives the tissue form and strength, is found all over the body. Connective tissue is made up of a protein known as collagen of which there are several different varieties found in the body. Stickler syndrome often affects the connective tissue of the eye, especially in the interior of the eyeball (vitreous humor), the specialized tissue that serves as a buffer or cushion for bones at joints (cartilage) and the ends of the bones that make up the joints of the body (epiphysis). Five distinct forms of Stickler syndrome have been identified in the medical literature based on location of the mutated gene and inheritance pattern.

Stickler syndrome type I (STL1) is responsible for approximately 75 percent of reported cases and presents with a wide variety of symptoms (eye, ear, jaw and cleft, joints) and occurs due to mutations of the COLA21 gene on chromosome 12q13.11 – q13.3. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant.

Stickler syndrome type II (STL2) occurs due to mutations of the COL11A1 gene on chromosome 1p21 . The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant.

Stickler syndrome type III (STL3) has been described as a “Stickler-like” syndrome that affects the joints and hearing without involving the eyes. It occurs due to mutations of the COL11A2 gene on chromosome 6p21.3. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant. This form is now considered the same disorder as heterozygous oto-spondylo-mega-epiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED). For more information on heterozygous OSMED see the NORD report on this disorder.

A mutation in a fourth gene, COL9A1, located on chromosome 6q13, has been identified in one reported kindred with Stickler syndrome (Stickler syndrome type IV or STL4). The inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive.

Additional cases of Stickler syndrome have been reported that are not associated with any of the identified Stickler genes suggesting that at least one more as yet unidentified gene may be associated with Stickler syndrome.

Resources

Cleft Palate Foundation
1504 East Franklin Street
Suite 102
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2820
USA
Tel: 9199339044
Fax: 9199339604
Tel: 8002425338
Email: info@cleftline.org
Internet: http://www.cleftline.org

Stickler Syndrome Support Group
PO Box 371
Walton-on-the-Thames
Surrey, Intl KT12 2YS
United Kingdom
Tel: 44 1932 267635
Fax: 44 1932 267635
Email: wendy@stickler.org.uk
Internet: http://www.stickler.org.uk

Stickler Involved People
15 Angelina
Augusta, KS 67010
Tel: (316)775-2993
Email: sip@sticklers.org
Internet: http://www.sticklers.org

National Craniofacial Foundation
3100 Carlisle Street
Suite 215
Dallas, TX 75204
Tel: (800)535-3643

NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: 3014954484
Fax: 3017186366
Tel: 8772264267
TDD: 3015652966
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info

NIH/National Eye Institute
Building 31 Rm 6A32
31 Center Dr MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
United States
Tel: 3014965248
Fax: 3014021065
Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/

Pierre Robin Network
3604 Biscayne
Quincy, IL 62305
USA
Tel: 2172240698
Fax: 2172242867
Email: help@pierrerobin.org
Internet: http://www.pierrerobin.org

Foundation Fighting Blindness (Canada)
60 St. Clair Ave East
Suite 703
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1N5
Canada
Tel: 416-360-4200
Fax: 416-360-0060
Tel: 800-461-3331
Email: info@ffb.ca
Internet: http://www.ffb.ca

Let Them Hear Foundation
1900 University Ave #101
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tel: (650)462-3143
Fax: (650)462-3143
Tel: (877)735-2929
Email: info@letthemhear.org
Internet: http://www.letthemhear.org

Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon St.
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617)924-3434
Fax: (617)926-2027
Email: Info@Perkins.org
Internet: http://www.Perkins.org

National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)
The Teaching Research Institute
Western Oregon University
345 N. Monmouth Ave.
Monmouth, OR 97361
Tel: (800)438-9376
Fax: (503)838-8150
Tel: (800)438-9376
TDD: (800)854-7013
Email: info@nationaldb.org
Internet: http://www.nationaldb.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 3/11/2008
Copyright 1987, 1990, 1997, 2003, 2008 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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