Patients with this rare syndrome are missing a portion of chromosome 5. Discovered by Dr. Lejeune and named for the cat-like cry of affected newborns, cri du chat, or more properly now called 5p- syndrome, occurs in one in about 50,000 babies and produces intellectual impairment that is often significant.

There is no cure, or known drug therapy to treat 5p- syndrome, but a regimen of physical therapy, psychomotor treatment and speech therapy can improve the patient’s quality of life markedly.