title: Rett syndrome: a review of current knowledge.
abstract: Rett syndrome was first described in 1966 by Andreas Rett. To date, this syndrome has been reported only to afflict females. The disorder is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive and motor skills as well as the development of stereotypic hand movements, occurring after an apparently normal 6 to 18 months of development. Although Rett syndrome is thought to afflict as many as 10,000 girls in the United States, fewer than 1,200 have been identified thus far. A lack of awareness of this disorder is thought to play a critical role in the failure to differentially diagnose this syndrome. The present article presents a review of our current knowledge concerning this disorder. Information is provided related to the clinical manifestations, etiology, prevalence, pathogenesis, and treatment of the Rett syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois, College of Education, Chicago 60680.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Acker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010641:Phenotype; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior