what is Holoprosencephaly

Holoprosencephaly can be defined as a cephalic disorder which can be characterized by a prosencephalon failure. Holoprosencephaly can be classified in three ways -
1) Alobar holoprosencephaly
2) Semilobar holoprosencephaly
3) Lobar holoprosencephaly

Alobar holoprosencephaly - It is a most serious form of Holoprosencephaly. In this form the brain fails to separate. It is usually associated with severe facial anomalies.

Semilobar holoprosencephaly - It is an intermediate form of semilobar holoprosencephaly. In this form the brain's hemispheres have a slight tendency to separate.

Lobar holoprosencephaly - It is a least severe form of Holoprosencephaly.In this form there is considerable evidence of separate brain hemispheres .

Causes of Holoprosencephaly

Main cause of holoprosencephaly is failure of the embryo's forebrain (To divide to form bilateral cerebral hemispheres, the left and right halves of the brain). It results defects in the development of the face and in brain structure and function.

Signs and symptoms of Holoprosencephaly

Common Symptoms of Holoprosencephaly are given below -
1) severe facial defect (Cyclopia, Ethmocephaly, Cebocephaly, and Median cleft lip)
2) Seizures
3) Mental retardation
4) Normal or near-normal brain developments

Treatment of Holoprosencephaly

There is no particular treatment for Holoprosencephaly. Only symptomatic treatment can be done in this case.