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Living with Lethal polymalformative syndrome, Boissel type

A rare inherited condition with slow growth, severe developmental delay, a small head, heart defects, and facial differences.

Understanding Lethal polymalformative syndrome, Boissel type

Lethal polymalformative syndrome, Boissel type is a rare inherited condition with many birth differences.

It involves slow weight gain, severe developmental delay, a head that grows very slowly after birth, and often heart defects. The face may look coarse. Nerve problems can include seizures, hearing loss, and stiff or floppy muscles. It begins in newborns and infants.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Slow weight gain (failure to thrive)
  • Small head that grows slowly
  • Seizures
  • Cleft palate
  • Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
  • Coarse facial features

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 genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in FTO are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Genetic specialists (geneticists)
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
Would FTO gene testing help our family?
Which specialists should follow heart and brain health?
What genetic counseling is available for future pregnancies?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesFTO

It is caused by changes in the FTO gene. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

Genetic

Also known as: growth retardation, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism; growth retardation, developmental delay, facial dysmorphism

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Lethal polymalformative syndrome, Boissel typeGARD ID 17110 · 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 Lethal polymalformative syndrome, Boissel type.

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  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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