Prader–Willi Syndrome

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic syndrome that affects both males and females. It is caused by a missing region in the long arm of one of the 15th chromosomes. The presentation of the syndrome differs extensively throughout each stage of life. Early recognition and treatment has been shown to improve the outcome of a child with PWS. This entry examines the prevalence, clinical course, and management of PWS.

Prevalence of Prader–Willi Syndrome

PWS characteristics were first described in 1887, but Andrea Prader, Heinrich Labhart, and Alexis Willi described a case series and named the syndrome in 1956. Later, a relation between the symptoms and a deletion in the long arm of chromosome 15 in more than half of the children diagnosed with PWS was found. Interestingly, ...

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