Non-blood cancers
People with Down syndrome have a lower risk of all major solid cancers, including those of lung, breast, and cervix, with the lowest relative rates occurring in those aged 50 years or older. This low risk is thought due to an increase in the expression of tumor suppressor genes present on chromosome 21. One exception is testicular germ cell cancer which occurs at a higher rate in Down syndrome. Endocrine
Problems of the thyroid gland occur in 20–50% of individuals with Down syndrome. Low thyroid is the most common form, occurring in almost half of all individuals. Thyroid problems can be due to a poorly or nonfunctioning thyroid at birth (known as congenital hypothyroidism) which occurs in 1% or can develop later due to an attack on the thyroid by the immune system resulting in Graves disease or autoimmune hypothyroidism. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is also more common. Gastrointestinal
Constipation occurs in nearly half of people with Down syndrome and may result in changes in behavior. One potential cause is Hirschsprungs disease, occurring in 2–15%, which is due to a lack of nerve cells controlling the colon. Other frequent congenital problems include duodenal atresia, pyloric stenosis, Meckel diverticulum, and imperforate anus. Celiac disease affects about 7–20% and gastroesophageal reflux disease is also more common. Teeth
People with Down syndrome tend to be more susceptible to gingivitis as well as early, severe periodontal disease, necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, and early tooth loss, especially in the lower front teeth.
Despite similar symptoms and blood test results to Cushings disease, evaluation of dogs with SARDS did not reveal any tumors in the pituitary or adrenal glands, and recent work has indicated significant differences in the clinical and laboratory test parameters between the two diseases. Diagnosis
Examination with an ophthalmoscope will initially show no changes, but in a few months atrophy of the retina will resemble the appearance of progressive retinal atrophy. Pathologically, there is a loss of the rod and cone cells followed by degeneration of other layers of the retina. The retinal degeneration appears to be related to apoptosis of these cells. SARDS must be distinguished from other causes of sudden blindness that have no visible pathology, including retrobulbar optic neuritis, a tumor at the optic chiasm, or other central nervous system diseases. Electroretinography is useful to definitively diagnose SARDS. Treatment
While there is no unilateral treatment for SARDS researchers at the Iowa State University led by Dr. Siniša Grozdanić, ISU Veterinary Ophthalmologist have successfully restored vision in two dogs who have been in 2007 successfully treated through an experimental treatment by intravenous immunoglobin (IVIg). "Although the dogs wont be catching any Frisbees, they can navigate and not bump into objects,", Dr. Grozdanić notes.Various immunosuppressive treatment regimens have been tried, but are not consistently effective. Treatment regimens with adrenal steroids and thyroid hormones have been proposed, but as of 2016 no controlled, peer reviewed studies had investigated the effectiveness of such treatments. == References ==