Prader-Willi Syndrome (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: PWS

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is an uncommon genetic disorder. It causes poor muscle tone, low levels of sex hormones and a constant feeling of hunger. The part of the brain that controls feelings of fullness or hunger does not work properly in people with PWS. They overeat, leading to obesity.

Babies with PWS are usually floppy, with poor muscle tone, and have trouble sucking. Boys may have undescended testicles. Later, other signs appear. These include

Short stature
Poor motor skills
Weight gain
Underdeveloped sex organs
Mild mental retardation and learning disabilities

There is no cure for PWS. Growth hormone and exercise can help build muscle mass and control weight.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

Genetics Home Reference: Prader-Willi syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=praderwillisyndrome
Prader-Willi Syndrome(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Prader_Willi_Syndrome.cfm

Overviews

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)(University of Michigan Health System) - http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/praders.htm
Questions and Answers on Prader-Willi Syndrome(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/faq.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.pwsausa.org/Spanish/Broch1.html

Nutrition

Prader-Willi Food Pyramid(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/syndrome/foodpyramid.htm

Coping

My Child Has Prader-Willi Syndrome, Now What?(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/Brochure/nowwhat.htm

Disease Management

Prader-Willi Syndrome Weight & Behavior Management(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/Brochure/weight.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.pwsausa.org/Spanish/Broch3.html

Specific Conditions

Patient's Guide to Low Testosterone(Hormone Foundation, Endocrine Society) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZO7PDVDLC&sub_cat=57

Related Issues

Speech and Language and Prader-Willi Syndrome(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/Brochure/speech.htm

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Prader-Willi Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Prader-Willi+Syndrome%22

Genetics

Genes and Disease: Prader-Willi Syndrome(National Center for Biotechnology Information) - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/books/bv.fcgi?tool=bookshelf&call=bv.View..ShowSection&searchterm=prader&rid=gnd.section.182
Genetics Home Reference: Prader-Willi syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=praderwillisyndrome
Genetics of Prader-Willi Syndrome: An Explanation for the Rest of Us(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/syndrome/Genetics_of_PWS.htm

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: French database of children and adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18831731&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Conservative scoliosis treatment in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18810044&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Successful early dietary intervention avoids obesity in patients with Prader-Willi... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18780599&tool=MedlinePlus
Prader-Willi Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=prader-willi+syndrome[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Medical Encyclopedia

Prader-Willi - http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v:project=medlineplus&binning-state=group%3d%3dMedical%20Encyclopedia&query=Prader%2DWilli

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary of Terms That May Appear in Literature about Prader-Willi Syndrome(Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) - http://www.pwsausa.org/glossary.htm

Organizations

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
Prader-Willi Syndrome Association - http://www.pwsausa.org/

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Prader-Willi Syndrome is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/