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Living with Warburg micro syndrome

An inherited condition with eye and brain development differences, severe learning disability, and small genitals.

Understanding Warburg micro syndrome

Warburg micro syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder with eye and brain development differences and small genitals.

GARD lists severe intellectual disability, a small head, cataracts from birth, small corneas and eyes, and a missing or underdeveloped connection between the brain halves (corpus callosum). It can also include delayed puberty.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Severe intellectual disability
  • Small head size (microcephaly)
  • Cataracts
  • Small eyes and corneas
  • Global developmental delay
  • Delayed puberty

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, eye disease specialists, genetic specialists and seizure and epilepsy specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

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

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Epilepsy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Eye disease specialists (ophthalmologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Seizure and epilepsy specialists (epileptologist)
Expert care
Expert lists: Epilepsy Foundation
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 Epilepsy Foundation
  • 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
Could genetic testing find the gene involved?
Which specialists should be on my child's care team?
What therapies can support development?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive

GARD says changes in genes (variants) cause this condition. A child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent (autosomal recessive).

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: micro syndrome; warbm; warburg-sjo-fledelius syndrome

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Warburg micro syndromeGARD ID 5534 · 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 Warburg micro syndrome.

Explore the Warburg micro syndrome blog

Explore research for Warburg micro syndrome

Explore actively recruiting Warburg micro syndrome studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Warburg micro 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

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

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