What is RSS?
RSS is short for Russell-Silver Sydrome. It’s also frequently referred to as Russell-Silver Dwarfism. But, the dwarfism (short stature) aspect of it isn’t a required symptom. Molly is anything but short-statured, but she has 90-95% of the other symptoms. It is almost always connected with SGA (small-gestational-age), or IUGR (intra-uterine-growth-retardation).
RSS is diagnosed by a doctor’s observation. At the moment, there is no lab test that can be run to make a conclusive diagnosis. It is a genetic disorder, but not yet tied to one specific genotype.
Some of the ‘symptoms’ or ‘red flags’ for this disorder:
- Consistently low weight-for-height measurements (FTT)
- Lack of interest in eating
- Body Asymmetry (this one is seen in MOST cases)
- Inadequate ‘catch-up’ growth during first two years
- Broad forehead
- High and narrow palate
- clinodactyly
- syndactyly
- cafe-au-lait spots
- dimples in hips and shoulder blades
- scoliosis
- prominent, low set, or backward rotated ears
- Underdeveloped chin and midface
- small triangular jaw
- Abnormally large head for body size (side effect of FTT)
- Arm span less than height (short arms)
- Poor muscle tone/lack of muscle mass
- Flat-narrow feet
- Short, stubby fingers and toes
- Unusually high-pitched voice in early years
- cryptorchidism
- hypospadius
- Bluish tint to the whites of the eye
- Intestinal movement abnormalities (Reflux, delayed stomach emptying/vomiting, constipation)
- Fasting hypoglycemia
- Metabolic Acidosis
- Delay of Gross and Fine Motor Development
- Kidney abnormalities (Horshoe Kidney, Posterior urethral valves, Renal tubular acidosis, Hydronephrosis)
- Delayed bone age early on, with fast advancement later
- Late closure of anterior fontanel
- Precocious Puberty
- ADD and/or specific Learning Disabilities
- Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Absence of second premolars
- Lack of subcutaneous fat
That is a rundown of the many symptoms that can be present. Tomorrow I will go into more of what it means for a child/their family growing up with RSS. How some of the symptoms can affect your life (night sweats, LD’s)…and how some are just purely physical manifestations that don’t affect your life.