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Concept
Holoprosencephaly
Summary
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon (the forebrain of the embryo) fails to develop into two hemispheres, typically occurring between the 18th and 28th day of gestation. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy. The condition also occurs in other species.
Holoprosencephaly is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in every 250 conceptions and most cases are not compatible with life and result in fetal death in utero due to deformities to the skull and brain. However, holoprosencephaly is still estimated to occur in approximately 1 in every 8,000 live births.
When the embryo's forebrain does not divide to form bilateral cerebral hemispheres (the left and right halves of the brain), it causes defects in the development of the face and in brain structure and function.
The severity of holoprosencephaly is highly variable. In less severe cases, babies are born with normal or near-normal brain development and facial deformities that may affect the eyes, nose, and upper lip.
Symptoms of holoprosencephaly range from mild (no facial/organ defects, anosmia, or only a single central incisor) to moderate to severe (cyclopia). The symptoms are dependent upon the classification type.
There are four classifications of holoprosencephaly as well as a mild "microform".
Alobar
Most severe form includes formation of synophthalmia (a single central eye), proboscis, and severe impairment.
Semilobar
Can present with severely decreased distance between eyes, a flat nasal bridge, eye defects, cleft lip and palate, and severe impairment.
Lobar
Can present with decreased distance between eyes, a flat nasal bridge, closely spaced nostrils, mental and locomotion delays may be present.
Syntelencephaly or middle interhemispheric variant of holoprosencephaly (MIHV)
Mild phenotypic presentation which can present with flat nasal bridge, metopic prominence, shallow philtrum, and possible mental and locomotion delays.
Official source
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