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Living with Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndrome

A rare genetic syndrome with brain, heart, and kidney differences, extra little fingers, and severe developmental delay.

Understanding Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndrome

Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndrome is a rare syndrome with multiple differences present from birth.

It includes slow growth before birth, brain differences, heart and kidney differences, and an extra little finger (postaxial polydactyly). Hair may be brittle with balding at the temples. Facial features include a flat nasal bridge and long, smooth philtrum. Severe developmental delay and slow growth after birth have been reported.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Severe delays in development
  • Heart wall openings (septal defects)
  • Extra little finger
  • Low muscle tone
  • Brittle hair and hair loss
  • Short stature

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and heart and blood vessel specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Which heart, kidney, and brain tests are needed?
Should hormone levels, such as pituitary function, be checked?
Is genetic testing available?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant

Changes in genes cause this condition. GARD doesn't name a specific gene yet.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: brain malformation, congenital heart disease, postaxial polydactyly syndrome; goossens devriendt syndrome; goossens-devriendt syndrome

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndromeGARD ID 18926 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndrome.

Explore the Brain malformation-congenital heart disease-postaxial polydactyly syndrome blog

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