Introduction

Overview

Characteristics of SMS

Diagnosing SMS

In-Depth Review

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS)?
• Is SMS inherited? If it is a genetic, does this mean I may have another child with SMS?
• How common is SMS?
• How many people have been diagnosed with SMS?
• How is SMS diagnosed?
• What kinds of behavior problems do people with SMS have?
• Do medications work to help control some of the SMS behavioral problems?
• How does SMS differ from autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)?
• What causes the sleep problems in SMS? Are there known treatments?
• Does early diagnosis of SMS help?
• What is the life expectancy of a person with SMS?
• What does the future hold for people with SMS?

What is Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS)?
SMS is a recognizable pattern of physical, behavioral, and developmental features which occur together in the same person due to a small deletion of chromosome 17. Common features include: characteristic, yet subtle, facial appearance, infant feeding problems, low muscle tone, developmental delay, sleep disturbance, self-injurious behaviors, prolonged tantrums, explosive outbursts, speech/language delay, ear infections, arm hugging/hand squeezing and decreased sensitivity to pain.

Is SMS inherited? If it is a genetic, does this mean I may have another child with SMS?
Although SMS is caused by a deletion of genetic material, it usually does not run in families. In most cases, the deletion occurs accidentally in a child around the time he or she is conceived, without being inherited from either parent. For this reason, we can say that SMS is clearly genetic, but not usually familial. The risk to siblings depends on the results of parental chromosome analysis. If parental chromosomes are normal, the risks to subsequent pregnancies are extremely low. Families are advised to consult a genetics counselor or specialist for further advice regarding their own particular family situation.

How common is SMS?
Although the exact incidence is not known, it is estimated that SMS occurs in 1 out of 25,000 births. SMS is vastly under-diagnosed, but as the awareness of it increases, the number of people identified grows every year.

How many people have been diagnosed with SMS?
Although the exact number of individuals diagnosed with SMS is unknown, PRISMS is aware of approximately 600 diagnosed individuals.

How is SMS diagnosed?
The diagnosis of SMS is usually confirmed through clinical blood tests called chromosome (cytogenetic) analysis and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). People with SMS are born with a small deletion (missing section) of one member of their 17th pair of chromosomes. It is the lack of this specific section, known as 17p11.2, which causes a child to develop the features of SMS.

What kinds of behavior problems do people with SMS have?
SMS individuals experience hyperactivity, self-injury (including: head banging; hand biting; picking at skin, sores and nails; pulling off finger- and toenails; inserting foreign objects into ears, nose, or other body orifices), explosive outbursts, prolonged tantrums, destructive and aggressive behavior, excitability and arm hugging / hand squeezing when excited.

Do medications work to help control some of the SMS behavioral problems?
Unfortunately the published data about the optimal intervention and behavioral strategies in SMS is limited to anecdotal and experiential findings. Many parents report that the use of psychotropic medications benefit SMS individuals with respect to stabilizing mood swings, decreasing anxiety, increasing attention and/or decreasing hyperactivity. However, no single regimen shows consistent efficacy among the majority of persons with SMS.

How does SMS differ from autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), ADHD or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)?
There is a lot of confusion among parents and school professionals about the meaning of the SMS diagnosis in relation to other types of diagnoses that a child may receive. Like other psychiatric conditions, ADD, ADHD, and PDD are essentially symptom diagnoses, that is, they describe and categorize specific patterns of atypical behavior and development. By contrast, SMS is a cause diagnosis. It is based on specific genetic laboratory findings in a person with developmental and/or behavioral symptoms. By itself, the diagnosis of SMS does not tell you which behavioral symptoms an affected child has - there is a lot of variability from one child with SMS to the next. Among the most common behavioral symptoms associated with SMS are attentional disorders (ADD, ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (PDD). A child or adult with SMS may have multiple symptom diagnoses plus a cause diagnosis all at the same time.

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What causes the sleep problems in SMS? Are there known treatments?

Efforts to understand sleep patterns and habits in SMS individuals have led to the confirmation of an unusual inverted circadian rhythm of melatonin. Research to determine the underlying cause for this disrupted sleep cycle has only just begun. Therapeutic management of the sleep disorder in SMS remains a challenge for physicians and parents. Reports of therapeutic benefit from melatonin suggest general improvement of sleep without major adverse reactions. However, melatonin dispensed over-the-counter is not regulated in the U.S. by the FDA; thus, dosages prepared by different companies may not be comparable. No formal melatonin treatment trials have been conducted. A parent monitored trial of four to six weeks on low-dose (1-3 mg) melatonin may be worth considering; continue with melatonin only if your notes indicate an improvement of sleep and/or behavior. It is important to note that high doses (>5 mg) of exogenous oral melatonin may remain in the body into the next morning, and may exacerbate day time sleepiness and diminish daytime vigilance and alertness.

Some families have had limited success with sleep medications other than melatonin. A single open trial of nine patients with SMS treated with oral beta blocker (Acebutolol 10 mg/kg) and melatonin reported suppression of melatonin peaks and subjectively improved behavior [de Leersnyder et al 2001]. While this work is exciting and promising, more research needs to be done.

Finally, some families with young children have tried enclosed bed systems with much success.

Does early diagnosis of SMS help?
Knowing the cause of your child's developmental delays can facilitate a family's access to critical early childhood intervention services such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy (OT) and/or physical therapy (PT). Early intervention has proven to be effective in many disabilities including SMS. In addition, early intervention may help program staff identify areas of specific need or risk. For example, some SMS families have benefited from using sign language with their child before his or her speech developed. Additionally, a diagnosis of SMS opens the doors to a network of information and support from professionals and other families dealing with the syndrome.

What is the life expectancy of a person with SMS? While no one has studied the life expectancy of individuals with SMS in detail, they appear to have a normal life expectancy. The oldest known person with SMS is now in her 80's.

What does the future hold for people with SMS? With help, people with SMS can expect to accomplish many of things their "typical" peers do—attend school, achieve in their outside areas of interest, be successfully employed, even move away from their family home. They do, however, need a significant amount of support from their families and from school, work, and residential service providers to achieve these goals. Early intervention can play a significant role in an individual's prognosis.

New medications, including psychotropic drugs, are already improving the quality of life for some people with SMS. Ongoing research offers the hope of new discoveries that will enable people affected by this rare condition to live more independent lives.