Genetics

Aarskog–Scott syndrome is a genetic disorder that mainly affects males. Females may have a milder form of the disease. Changes (mutations) in the "faciogenital dysplasia" (FGD1) gene are responsible for the syndrome. The disease is transmitted in an X-linked recessive manner. This is a hereditary pattern in which a recessive gene on the X chromosome results in disease manifestations in male offspring. A trait is said to be recessive when it becomes clinically apparent only when an individual carries two copies of its gene (unlike a dominant trait which get expressed even if a single copy of the gene is present). The female offspring has 2 X chromosomes, out of which one is often normal; this female will only be a carrier, i.e. she does not clinically have the disease but her sons will have a 50% risk of being affected.

Incidence and Prevalence

The syndrome is rare; the exact prevalence is unknown. Mildly affected people are often not diagnosed.

Risk factors

Aarskog–Scott syndrome is an inherited disorder that runs in families. Specific risk factors have not been listed.