Turner syndrome, also known as monosomy X, 45X, or Ullrich-Turner syndrome, is a chromosomal disorder that occurs due to complete or partial monosomy for the X chromosome which results in ovarian failure and short stature.
This genetic disorder occurs in 1 per 2500 live-born females.
Approximately 1% of all female conceptions have a missing X chromosome. Of these, the majority of about 99 percent spontaneously abort during the 1st trimester of pregnancy.
TS is the 2nd most frequent form of sex chromosome aneuploidy.
Characteristics
Common characteristics and traits of the syndrome include:
- delayed growth;
- infertility as a result of streak gonads;
- narrow fingernails and toenails;
- primary amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual periods);
- short fingers and toes;
- estrogen deficiency;
- arms which turn outward at the elbows;
- micrognathia (a condition where the jaw is undersized);
- broad chest with widely spaced nipples;
- perception and hearing loss;
- a low hairline;
- middle ear infection;
- low-set ears;
- elevated hepatic enzymes;
- a narrow roof of the mouth (palate);
- hypertension;
- a wide neck with extra folds of skin;
- short stature (more than 50 percent of cases).
Girls with TS usually have normal intelligence, however, they may have difficulty with social, nonverbal, and psychomotor skills.
Occasionally, the symptoms are so mild that the affected females don’t get a diagnosis until they are young adults.
Causes
In females with TS, a copy of the X chromosome is absent or considerably different.
The missing genes cause the abnormalities found in women with TS.
Unlike with Down syndrome, maternal age does not increase the risk of TS, and there are no clearly established risk factors.
The genetic alterations of Turner Syndrome may be one of the following:
- Y chromosome material – in a small percentage of TS cases, some cells have one copy of the X chromosome and some Y chromosome material and other cells have one copy of the X chromosome;
- Mosaicism – some cells have only one copy of the X chromosome, or they have one complete and one altered copy;
- Monosomy – the complete absence of an X chromosome which typically happens due to an error in the mother’s egg or in the father’s sperm.
Diagnosis
TS can be diagnosed before birth, during infancy, or in early childhood.
It is diagnosed using a number of tests including:
- genetic tests;
- amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling;
- blood tests and chromosome analysis;
- psychological and educational assessment;
- physical examination;
- clinical history.
Treatment
Although there is no cure for TS, there are some treatments that can help most patients with TS to lead relatively normal lives.
These treatments include:
- hormone replacement therapies to help with proper development;
- growth hormones to help reach close-to-average heights.
Nutrition & Exercise
Weight management is an issue in people with TS.
Therefore, affected females should be encouraged to engage in physical activities, like – walking, swimming, or bicycling starting in childhood.
Also, the incidence of type II diabetes mellitus has been reported to be increased (with about 100 percent) in people with Turner syndrome.
Hence, affected individuals should have a diet low in junk foods and rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, and whole grains.
READ MORE: Famous People With Klinefelter Syndrome
List of Celebrities With Turner Syndrome
1) Linda Hunt
© Getty Images
She was born on April 2, 1945, in Morristown, New Jersey.
Her mother, Elsie Doying, is a piano teacher and her father, Raymond Davy Hunter, is the vice president of Harper Fuel Oil.
Linda’s film debut was in Robert Altman’s Popeye, however, it was her 2nd film, ”The Year of Living Dangerously,” which earned Linda international praise.
She won an Oscar award for her role as the male Chinese-Australian photographer Billy Kwan.
Other movies in which she starred include the following:
- She-Devil;
- Eleni;
- Carmilla;
- Silverado;
- Dune;
- Younger and Younger;
- The Bostonians;
- Rain Without Thunder;
- If Looks Could Kill;
- Kindergarten Cop;
- Waiting for the Moon.
Currently, Hunt is living a blissful married life with his wife Karen Klein. The couple tied the knot in the year 2008.
2) Janette Krankie
© Getty Images
She is an actress who is best known for her role in A Bucket o’ French & Saunders or Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
In December 2004, Janette fractured her collarbone and skull falling from scenery during a pantomime at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre. Since then, she is semi-retired.
Krankie has been married to Ian Tough since 1969.
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3) Catherine Ward Melver
Dr. Catherine Ward-Melver works as a geneticist at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio.
At 4-foot 8-inches tall, she was born with TS.
In 2013, Dr. Catherine Ward-Melver adopted a girl from China, who also has Turner syndrome. She said: ”I want Zoe to grow up knowing that she is a healthy, delightful girl who just happens to have Turner syndrome.”
READ MORE: Famous People With Acromegaly
4) Missy Marlowe (rumor)
© Getty Images
Melissa “Missy” Marlowe is a Belgian-born American gymnast who represented the US at the Olympics in Seoul.
In 1987, Marlowe was voted “Athlete of the Year” by her teammates. Presently, she is married to a former Utah football player, Joe Clausi, and resides in Salt Lake City.
Featured image credit – Getty Images
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Sources https://cibsr.stanford.edu/research/previous-studies/turners.html https://www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/turnersyndrome