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Genetics Home Reference: your guide to understanding genetic conditions
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Alström syndrome

Reviewed August 2008

What is Alström syndrome?

Alström syndrome is a rare condition that affects many body systems. Many of the signs and symptoms of this condition begin in infancy or early childhood, although some appear later in life.

Alström syndrome is characterized by a progressive loss of vision and hearing, a form of heart disease that enlarges and weakens the heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy), obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (the most common form of diabetes), and short stature. This disorder can also cause serious or life-threatening medical problems involving the liver, kidneys, bladder, and lungs. Some individuals with Alström syndrome have a skin condition called acanthosis nigricans, which causes the skin in body folds and creases to become thick, dark, and velvety. The signs and symptoms of Alström syndrome vary in severity, and not all affected individuals have all of the characteristic features of the disorder.

How common is Alström syndrome?

This condition is very rare; about 500 affected people have been reported worldwide.

What genes are related to Alström syndrome?

Mutations in the ALMS1 gene cause Alström syndrome. The ALMS1 gene provides instructions for making a protein whose function is unknown. Mutations in this gene probably lead to the production of an abnormally short, nonfunctional version of the ALMS1 protein. This protein is normally present at low levels in most tissues, so a loss of the protein's normal function may help explain why the signs and symptoms of Alström syndrome affect many parts of the body.

Related Gene(s)

Changes in this gene are associated with Alström syndrome.

  • ALMS1

How do people inherit Alström syndrome?

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Where can I find information about diagnosis or management of Alström syndrome?

These resources address the diagnosis or management of Alström syndrome and may include treatment providers.

  • Gene Review: Alstrom Syndrome (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=alstrom)
  • Gene Tests: Alstrom Syndrome (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/GeneTests/lab/clinical_disease_id/3375)
  • MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Acanthosis Nigricans (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000852.htm)
  • MedlinePlus Encyclopedia: Alström syndrome (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001665.htm)

You might also find information on the diagnosis or management of Alström syndrome in Educational resources (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/alstrom-syndrome/show/Educational+resources) and Patient support (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/alstrom-syndrome/show/Patient+support).

To locate a healthcare provider, see How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

Where can I find additional information about Alström syndrome?

You may find the following resources about Alström syndrome helpful. These materials are written for the general public.

  • MedlinePlus - Health information

    • Encyclopedia: Acanthosis Nigricans (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000852.htm)
    • Encyclopedia: Alström syndrome (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001665.htm)
    • Health Topic: Hearing Disorders and Deafness (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hearingdisordersanddeafness.html)
    • Health Topic: Hearing Problems in Children (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hearingproblemsinchildren.html)
    • Health Topic: Vision Impairment and Blindness (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/visionimpairmentandblindness.html)
  • Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center - Information about genetic conditions and rare diseases (http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Disease.aspx?PageID=4&DiseaseID=5787)

  • Educational resources - Information pages

    • Madisons Foundation (http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_mpower&task=disease&diseaseID=261)
    • Orphanet (http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=EN&Expert=64)
    • Swedish Information Center for Rare Diseases (http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/rarediseases/alstromsyndrome)

  • Patient support - For patients and families

    • Alström Syndrome International (http://www.alstrom.org/)
    • Alström Syndrome UK (http://www.alstrom.org.uk/)
    • Family Village (http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_alst.htm)
    • National Organization for Rare Disorders (http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/871/viewAbstract)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.

  • Gene Reviews - Clinical summary (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=alstrom)
  • Gene Tests - DNA tests ordered by healthcare professionals (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/GeneTests/lab/clinical_disease_id/3375)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov - Linking patients to medical research (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=%22Alstrom%20syndrome%22)
  • PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((alstrom%20syndrome%5BTIAB%5D)%20OR%20(alstr%C3%B6m%20syndrome%5BTIAB%5D))%20AND%20english%5Bla%5D%20AND%20human%5Bmh%5D%20AND%20%22last%203600%20days%22%5Bdp%5D)
  • OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://omim.org/entry/203800)

What other names do people use for Alström syndrome?

  • ALMS
  • Alstrom-Hallgren syndrome
  • Alstrom syndrome

For more information about naming genetic conditions, see the Genetics Home Reference Condition Naming Guidelines (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/ConditionNameGuide) and How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What if I still have specific questions about Alström syndrome?

Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/).

What glossary definitions help with understanding Alström syndrome?

acanthosis nigricans ; autosomal ; autosomal recessive ; cardiomyopathy ; cell ; diabetes ; diabetes mellitus ; dilated ; gene ; insulin ; insulin resistance ; kidney ; mutation ; protein ; recessive ; short stature ; sign ; stature ; symptom ; syndrome ; tissue

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).

References

  • Gene Review: Alstrom Syndrome (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=gene&part=alstrom)
  • Goldstein JL, Fialkow PJ. The Alström syndrome. Report of three cases with further delineation of the clinical, pathophysiological, and genetic aspects of the disorder. Medicine (Baltimore). 1973 Jan;52(1):53-71. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4689172?dopt=Abstract)
  • Hoffman JD, Jacobson Z, Young TL, Marshall JD, Kaplan P. Familial variable expression of dilated cardiomyopathy in Alström syndrome: a report of four sibs. Am J Med Genet A. 2005 May 15;135(1):96-8. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15809999?dopt=Abstract)
  • Joy T, Cao H, Black G, Malik R, Charlton-Menys V, Hegele RA, Durrington PN. Alstrom syndrome (OMIM 203800): a case report and literature review. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2007 Dec 21;2:49. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18154657?dopt=Abstract)
  • Maffei P, Munno V, Marshall JD, Scandellari C, Sicolo N. The Alström syndrome: is it a rare or unknown disease? Ann Ital Med Int. 2002 Oct-Dec;17(4):221-8. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12532560?dopt=Abstract)
  • Marshall JD, Beck S, Maffei P, Naggert JK. Alström syndrome. Eur J Hum Genet. 2007 Dec;15(12):1193-202. Epub 2007 Oct 17. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17940554?dopt=Abstract)
  • Marshall JD, Bronson RT, Collin GB, Nordstrom AD, Maffei P, Paisey RB, Carey C, Macdermott S, Russell-Eggitt I, Shea SE, Davis J, Beck S, Shatirishvili G, Mihai CM, Hoeltzenbein M, Pozzan GB, Hopkinson I, Sicolo N, Naggert JK, Nishina PM. New Alström syndrome phenotypes based on the evaluation of 182 cases. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Mar 28;165(6):675-83. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15795345?dopt=Abstract)
  • Minton JA, Owen KR, Ricketts CJ, Crabtree N, Shaikh G, Ehtisham S, Porter JR, Carey C, Hodge D, Paisey R, Walker M, Barrett TG. Syndromic obesity and diabetes: changes in body composition with age and mutation analysis of ALMS1 in 12 United Kingdom kindreds with Alstrom syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Aug;91(8):3110-6. Epub 2006 May 23. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16720663?dopt=Abstract)
  • Russell-Eggitt IM, Clayton PT, Coffey R, Kriss A, Taylor DS, Taylor JF. Alström syndrome. Report of 22 cases and literature review. Ophthalmology. 1998 Jul;105(7):1274-80. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9663233?dopt=Abstract)

 

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

 
Reviewed: August 2008
Published: May 14, 2012