Williams Syndrome

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a rare disorder, caused by a microdeletion in chromosome number 7. The lost material contains approximately 20 contiguous genes, with most notably elastin, which is the “marker gene”. WS is a non-hereditary syndrome that occurs at random and shows a wide variation in ability from person to person. It can affect brain development in varying degrees, combined with some physical effects or physical problems. These range from lack of coordination, slight muscle weakness, possible heart defects and occasional kidney damage. Development is delayed and atypical. The incidence of WS is thought to be somewhere between 1:7,500 to 1:20,000.