Children's Health

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Stickler Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Hereditary Arthro-Ophthalmopathy

Disorder Subdivisions

• Stickler syndrome type I
• Stickler syndrome type II

General Discussion

Stickler syndrome refers to a group of disorders of the connective tissue that affect multiple organ systems of the body such as the eyes, skeleton, inner ear, and/or the head and face. Connective tissue, which is the material between cells of the body that gives the tissue form and strength, is found all over the body. Connective tissue is made up of a protein known as collagen of which there are several different varieties found in the body. Stickler syndrome often affects the connective tissue of the eye, especially in the interior of the eyeball (vitreous humor), the specialized tissue that serves as a buffer or cushion for bones at joints (cartilage) and the ends of the bones that make up the joints of the body (epiphysis). Five distinct forms of Stickler syndrome have been identified in the medical literature based on location of the mutated gene and inheritance pattern.

Stickler syndrome type I (STL1) is responsible for approximately 75 percent of reported cases and presents with a wide variety of symptoms (eye, ear, jaw and cleft, joints) and occurs due to mutations of the COLA21 gene on chromosome 12q13.11 - q13.3. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant.

Stickler syndrome type II (STL2) occurs due to mutations of the COL11A1 gene on chromosome 1p21. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant.

Stickler syndrome type III (STL3) has been described as a "Stickler-like" syndrome that affects the joints and hearing without involving the eyes. It occurs due to mutations of the COL11A2 gene on chromosome 6p21.3. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant. This form is now considered the same disorder as heterozygous oto-spondylo-mega-epiphyseal dysplasia (OSMED). For more information on heterozygous OSMED see the NORD report on this disorder.

A mutation in a fourth gene, COL9A1, located on chromosome 6q13, has been identified in one reported kindred with Stickler syndrome (Stickler syndrome type IV or STL4). The inheritance pattern is autosomal recessive.

Additional cases of Stickler syndrome have been reported that are not associated with any of the identified Stickler genes suggesting that at least one more as yet unidentified gene may be associated with Stickler syndrome.

Resources

Cleft Palate Foundation
1504 East Franklin Street
Suite 102
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2820
USA
Tel: (919)933-9044
Fax: (919)933-9604
Tel: (800)242-5338
Email: info@cleftline.org
Internet: http://www.cleftline.org

Stickler Syndrome Support Group
PO Box 3351
Littlehampton, Intl BN16 9GB
United Kingdom
Tel: 44 1932 267635
Fax: 44 1932 267635
Email: info@stickler.org.uk
Internet: http://www.stickler.org.uk

Stickler Involved People
15 Angelina
Augusta, KS 67010
Tel: (316)775-2993
Email: sip@sticklers.org
Internet: http://www.sticklers.org

NIH/NationaI Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
Tel: (877)226-4267
TDD: (301)565-2966
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/

NIH/National Eye Institute
31 Center Dr
MSC 2510
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
United States
Tel: (301)496-5248
Fax: (301)402-1065
Email: 2020@nei.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nei.nih.gov/

Coalition for Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue (CHDCT)
4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 404
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202)362-9599
Fax: (202)966-8553
Tel: (800)778-7171
Email: chdct@pxe.org
Internet: http://www.chdct.org

Pierre Robin Network
3604 Biscayne
Quincy, IL 62305
USA
Tel: (217)224-0698
Fax: (217)224-2867
Email: info@pierrerobin.org
Internet: http://www.pierrerobin.org

MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
Tel: (877)336-5333
Email: mums@netnet.net
Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/AboutGARD.aspx

Foundation Fighting Blindness (Canada)
890 Yonge Street, 12th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3P4
Canada
Tel: 416-360-4200
Fax: 416-360-0060
Tel: 800-461-3331
Email: info@ffb.ca
Internet: http://www.ffb.ca

Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org

Let Them Hear Foundation
1900 University Avenue, Suite 101
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Tel: (650)462-3143
Fax: (650)462-3144
Tel: (877)735-2929
Email: info@letthemhear.org
Internet: http://www.letthemhear.org

Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel: (617)924-3434
Fax: (617)926-2027
Email: Info@Perkins.org
Internet: http://www.Perkins.org

National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness
The Teaching Research Institute
345 N. Monmouth Avenue
Monmouth, OR 97361
Tel: (800)438-9376
Fax: (503)838-8150
Tel: (800)438-9376
TDD: (800)854-7013
Email: info@nationaldb.org
Internet: http://www.nationaldb.org

European Skeletal Dysplasia Network
Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research
Faculty of Life Sciences
University of Manchester
Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PT
UK
Tel: 44 161 275 5642
Fax: 44 161 275 5082
Email: info@esdn.org
Internet: http://www.esdn.org

Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation of Smiles
2044 Michael Ave SW
Wyoming, MI 49509
Email: Rachelmancuso09@comcast.net
Internet: http://www.cleftsmile.org