Meanwood Park Hospital, Leeds.
Surveys of Cases of Down’s Syndrome.
This paper presents the results of surveys of cases of Downs Syndrome at Meanwood Park Hospital. The material is offered for comparison with findings elsewhere in comparable mental handicap hospitals.
Down’s Syndrome has been present in 8 to 10% of the mentally handicapped long stay patients in Meanwood Park Hospital.
DOWN’S SYNDROME AND ITS RELATION TO MATERNAL AGE.
In 1971 65 cases of Down’s Syndrome at Meanwood Park Hospital were examined with respect to the age of the mother at the birth of the Down’s Syndrome patient.
Of the 65 cases 19 were born to mothers in the 19 – 30 age range. This 19 included 8 men and 11 women. These cases could be regarded as falling into Penrose’s Class A type Down’s Syndrome born to younger mothers.
Of the 65 cases 46 were born to mothers in the 33 – 46 age range. This 46 included 21 men and 25 women. These cases could be regarded as falling into Penrose’s Class B type Down’s syndrome born to older mothers.
The number of cases born to mothers before the age of 40 was 40. The number of cases born to mother after the age of 40 was 25.
THE SEASONALITY OF DOWN’S SYNDROME BIRTHS
The month of birth was determined in 60 cases of Down’s Syndrome at Meanwood Park Hospital, Leeds.
PERIOD Total Down’s Births Total Down’s Births TOTAL
to women over 35 to women under 35
May to Oct 17 14 31
Nov. to April 23 6 29
GRAND TOTALS 40 20 60
III CHROMOSOMAL ANALYSIS IN DOWN’S SYNDROME
In 1976 the chromosomes of a sample of patients with Down’s Syndrome at Meanwood Park Hospital were analysed with the help of Dr. M.K. Mason. M.D. F.R.C.Path., Consultant Pathologist of St.James’s University Hospital, Leeds. The age of the mother at the birth of the unusual Down’s Syndrome Karyotypes above was as below:-
UNUSUAL KARYOTYPES AND MATERNAL AGE
KARYOTYPE AGE OF MOTHER AT BIRTH
OF PATIENT.
Mosaic 36
D/G Translocation 20
G/G Translocation 23
Turner – Down’s Mosaic Uncertain
IV A WHITE LOCK IN DOWN’S SYNDROME
In two women patients with Down’s Syndrome at Meanwood Park Hospital, Leeds a distinctive white lock of hair was found present over the occiput. The head hair in these patients was black or brown except for the white streak, which was seen only by lifting the superficial back hair. The patients had no history of alopecia.
Down’s Syndrome patients in associated hospitals for mental handicap were examined for this feature and out of 45 women with Down’s Syndrome 3 (6.7%) were found to have it.
A brief report was sent to the correspondence columns of “The Lancet”. Following it’s publication “ A White Lock in Down’s Syndrome”, on March 31st 1973, Page 729, a number of doctors from other parts of the country reported that they had Down’s Syndrome patients under their care with this feature. The standard text books, so far as is known, made no reference to it. Its significance is uncertain.
Dr, D A Spencer.
