Aicardi Syndrome

Synonyms

• Agenesis of Corpus Callosum With Chorioretinitis Abnormality
• Agenesis of Corpus Callosum With Infantile Spasms And Ocular Anomalies
• Callosal Agenesis and Ocular Abnormalities
• Chorioretinal Anomalies with ACC
• Corpus Callosum, Agenesis of and Chorioretinal Abnormality

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Aicardi syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder. Almost all people with Aicardi syndrome are females. Individuals with Aicardi syndrome have agenesis of the corpus callosum, chorioretinal lacunae and seizures. Agenesis of the corpus callosum means that the structure that connects the right half of the brain with the left half of the brain (corpus callosum) does not develop normally. Chorioretinal lacunae are small holes in the retina (back part of the eye). These are only visible to a doctor using a device to look into the back of the eye. It is very unusual to have Aicardi syndrome without having chorioretinal lacunae. The seizures can be of different types. Infants with Aicardi syndrome usually have a type of seizures known as “infantile spasms”. These are single jerks of the whole body. They may happen many times a day. Infants are usually awake during infantile spasms. These look different from the more common type of seizures known as “generalized tonic-clonic” seizures. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures are rhythmic jerking of arms and legs. People often black out during this type of seizure. Children with Aicardi syndrome usually grow out of infantile spasms and then have generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Other parts of the brain also do not develop normally. These brain malformations cause frequent seizures and mental retardation.

Resources

Aicardi Syndrome Newsletter, Inc.
1510 Polo Fields Ct
Louisville, KY 40245
USA
Tel: 5022449152
Email: AICNews@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aicardisyndrome.org

National Association for Visually Handicapped
22 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
USA
Tel: 2128893141
Fax: 2127272931
Email: staff@navh.org
Internet: http://www.navh.org

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301)565-3842
Fax: (301)565-3843
Tel: (800)433-5255
TDD: (817)277-0553
Email: info@thearc.org
Internet: http://www.thearc.org/

Blind Children's Fund
311 W. Broadway
Suite 1
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Tel: (989)779-9966
Fax: (989)779-0015
Email: bcf@blindchildrensfund.org
Internet: http://www.blindchildrensfund.org

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
31 Center Drive
8A07
Bethesda, MD 20892-2540
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/

Aicardi Syndrome Awareness and Support Group
29 Delavan Avenue
Toronto
Ontario, M5P 1T2
Canada
Tel: (416) 481-4095
Email: asasn@sympatico.ca
Internet: http://www.aicardisyndrome.org/

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: 9203365333
Fax: 9203390995
Tel: 8773365333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Aicardi Syndrome Foundation
PO Box 3202
St. Charles, IL 60174
Tel: (800)374-8518
Email: foundation@aicardisyndrome.org
Internet: http://www.aicardisyndrome.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:  2/17/2009
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