Facts
Edwards Syndrome is a deadly syndrome with a rate of only 5% of all embryo's/foetuses making it to term. Of those that do make it to term, the average life expectancy is 48 days, but the median life expectancy is only 4 days. Some useful statistics include: Newborns have a 40% chance of making it to 1 month, Infants have a 5% chance of surviving to 1 year, and children have a 1% chance of making it to 10 years old.[15]
Children Who survive have a higher risk of Wilms' Tumour (Cancer of the Kidney's) and Hepatoblastoma (Cancer of the Liver), however Death is usually caused by severe cardiac, renal or central nervous system malformation and/or feeding difficulties or sepsis.[15]
In the United States, Edwards Syndrome occurs in 1 in 6000 live births with 80% of those affected with Edwards Syndrome being girls. Edwards Syndrome does not come solely from one gender. It is caused by there being an extra chromosome in either the egg or the sperm (no gender is solely responsible for this genetic defect). [15]
Trisomy 18 is the second most common autosomal Trisomy amongst living children. This is after Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)[15].
Children Who survive have a higher risk of Wilms' Tumour (Cancer of the Kidney's) and Hepatoblastoma (Cancer of the Liver), however Death is usually caused by severe cardiac, renal or central nervous system malformation and/or feeding difficulties or sepsis.[15]
In the United States, Edwards Syndrome occurs in 1 in 6000 live births with 80% of those affected with Edwards Syndrome being girls. Edwards Syndrome does not come solely from one gender. It is caused by there being an extra chromosome in either the egg or the sperm (no gender is solely responsible for this genetic defect). [15]
Trisomy 18 is the second most common autosomal Trisomy amongst living children. This is after Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)[15].
[15] Edwards' Syndrome (Trisomy 18) | Doctor | Patient.co.uk. 2014. Edwards' Syndrome (Trisomy 18) | Doctor | Patient.co.uk. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/edwards-syndrome-trisomy-18. [Accessed 16 August 2014].