Skip to content
knowrare
HealthSignal
Your condition community

Living with Faciocardiorenal syndrome

A very rare inherited condition with learning difficulties, a horseshoe-shaped kidney, and heart differences.

Understanding Faciocardiorenal syndrome

Faciocardiorenal syndrome is a very rare condition with intellectual disability, a horseshoe kidney, and heart differences present at birth.

It is seen in newborns. Facial features can include a cleft palate, wide-set eyes, and prominent ears. Fewer teeth and a flat head shape are also reported.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Intellectual disability
  • Horseshoe kidney
  • Heart differences (endocardial fibroelastosis)
  • Cleft palate
  • Wide-set eyes (hypertelorism)
  • Fewer teeth than usual (hypodontia)

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 kidney 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); Kidney specialists (nephrologists)
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 National Kidney Foundation and other patient organizations
  • 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 and kidney checks are needed, and how often?
Which specialists should be on the care team?
Can genetic testing help confirm this diagnosis?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

Changes in genes cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, which means a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent. GARD does not name the gene.

GeneticNeurologicalKidney

Also known as: eastman bixler syndrome; eastman-bixler syndrome

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Faciocardiorenal syndromeGARD ID 2230 · 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 Faciocardiorenal syndrome.

Explore the Faciocardiorenal syndrome blog

Explore research for Faciocardiorenal syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Faciocardiorenal syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Faciocardiorenal syndrome with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper

I can help you find recruiting Faciocardiorenal syndrome studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

Get Signals for Faciocardiorenal syndrome

Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.

HealthStoryfor Faciocardiorenal syndrome

Create a living journal that talks back

HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Faciocardiorenal syndrome experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.

Start your journal

Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.