DOWN-SYNDROME IN YAOUNDE, CAMEROON - INCI DENCE, KARYOTYPE AND CONGENITAL-DEFECTS

Thirty-three Down syndrome patients aged 0 to 15 years were identified in Cameroon over a nine-year period. Eight were recruited in an obste trical unit, out of 5.578 live births, for an overall incidence of 1 i n 697 live births. Mean maternal age in this group was 38.25 years. Th e incidence increased with maternal age, from 1/2021 (0.49/1000) in th e 25-29 year group to one in 21 (46.87/1.000) in the 40 years and olde r group. Of the 19 patients who had a karyotype, 18 had full trisomy ( 94.7 %) and one had mosaic trisomy (5.26 %). No translocations were id entified; Birth order was fifth or greater in 11 of the 19 cases. Cong enital malformations were those described in the literature.