Synonyms

• DeMorsier Syndrome
• SOD

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Septooptic dysplasia is a disorder that results from incomplete development of the forebrain and pituitary gland. This condition is characterized by underdevelopment (hypoplasia) of the optic nerves that transmit impulses from the nerve-rich membranes lining the retina of the eye to the brain; abnormalities of midline structures of the brain such as the septum pellucidum and corpus callosum; and diminished activity of the pituitary gland, the hormone-producing gland at the base of the brain. Most people with septooptic dysplasia have abnormal eye movements (nystagmus) and some affected individuals have partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes. Some affected children have normal intelligence and others have learning disabilities and mental retardation. Deficiencies of certain hormones result in growth retardation and short stature. The cause of septooptic dysplasia is not fully understood. Most cases are thought to occur randomly for unknown reasons (sporadic), but some families have been reported with more than one affected child, suggesting autosomal recessive inheritance.

Resources

Human Growth Foundation
997 Glen Cove Avenue
Glen Head, NY 11545
Tel: (516)671-4041
Fax: (516)671-4055
Tel: (800)451-6434
Email: hgf1@hgfound.org
Internet: http://www.hgfound.org/

MAGIC Foundation for Children's Growth
6645 W. North Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
Tel: (708)383-0808
Fax: (708)383-0899
Tel: (800)362-4423
Email: mary@magicfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.magicfoundation.org

Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc.
11435 Cronhill Drive
Owings Mills, MD 21117-2220
Tel: (410)568-0150
Fax: (410)363-2393
Tel: (800)683-5555
TDD: (800)683-5551
Email: info@blindness.org
Internet: http://www.fightblindness.org

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/

Diabetes Insipidus Foundation, Inc.
5203 New Prospect Court
Ellicott City, MD 21043
United States
Tel: 4104800880
Email: info@diabetesinsipidus.org
Internet: http://www.diabetesinsipidus.org

National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
P.O. Box 317
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617)972-7441
Fax: (617)972-7444
Tel: (800)562-6265
Email: napvi@perkins.org
Internet: http://www.napvi.org

National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
USA
Tel: 4106599314
Fax: 4106855653
Email: nfb@nfb.org
Internet: http://www.nfb.org

American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza
Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Tel: (212)502-7600
Fax: (212)502-7777
Tel: (800)232-5463
TDD: (212)502-7662
Email: afbinfo@afb.org
Internet: http://www.afb.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

Council of Families with Visual Impairment
1155 15th St. NW
Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202)465-5081
Fax: (202)465-5085
Email: info@acb.org
Internet: http://www.acb.org/

FOCUS Families--For Our Children's Unique Sight
2453 Emerald Street
San Diego, CA 92109
United States
Tel: 8582731473
Tel: 8663628750
Email: support@focusfamilies.org
Internet: http://www.focusfamilies.org

NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Tel: (301)654-3810
Fax: (301)907-8906
Tel: (800)891-5389
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niddk.nih.gov

Blind Children's Center
4120 Marathon Street
Los Angeles, CA 90029-3584
USA
Tel: 3236642153
Fax: 3236653828
Tel: 8002223566
Email: info@blindcntr.org
Internet: http://www.blindcntr.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/

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:  5/2/2008
Copyright  1988, 1989, 1997, 2005National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.