Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Care of the Adult Patient with Down Syndrome”

Authors: Lee P. Shulman, MD

Abstract

There are an estimated 250,000 individuals with Down syndrome in the United States,1 with the population being skewed to children and adolescents as a result of the considerable morbidity associated with the condition.2 Usually resulting from an extra chromosome 21 (trisomy 21), but occasionally caused by an unbalanced chromosome rearrangement resulting in extra chromosome 21-specific DNA, the extra chromosomal material results in myriad developmental, anatomical, and physiological abnormalities, leading to a considerably shortened life expectancy.2

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Presson AP, Partyka G, Jensen KM, et al. Current estimate of Down syndrome population prevalence in the United States. J Pediatr 2013;163:1163-1168.
 
2. Coppus AM. People with intellectual disability: what do we know about adulthood and life expectancy? Dev Disabil Res Rev 2013;18:6-16.
 
3. Caughey AB, Hopkins LM, Norton ME. Chorionic villus sampling compared with amniocentesis and the difference in the rate of pregnancy loss. Obstet Gynecol 2006;108(3 Pt 1):612-616.
 
4. Mendez-Rosado LA, Hechavarria-Estenoz D, de la Torre ME, et al. Current status of prenatal diagnosis in Cuba: causes of low prevalence of Down syndrome. Prenat Diagn 2014 May 24 [Epub ahead of print] .
 
5. Engels MA, Bhola SL, Twisk JW, et al. Evaluation of the introduction of the national Down syndrome screening program in the Netherlands: age-related uptake of prenatal screening and invasive diagnostic testing. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2014;174:59-63.
 
6. Malt EA, Dahl RC, Hausgard TM, et al. Health and disease in adults with Down syndrome. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2013;133:290-294.
 
7. Trotter Ross W, Olsen M. Care of the adult patient with Down syndrome. South Med J 2014;107:715-721.