Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a rare birth defect that affects the blood and lymph vessels. Common symptoms of the disorder include cysts and swelling of the skin, dilated veins, abnormally fast growth of an extremity and flattened, colored marks that cover a large area on the affected extremity.

These are known as capillary malformations and they do not go away. As the child grows, so will the marks. The affected extremity will generally be painful and have a heavy sensation. Because the affected extremity will grow at an increased rate, problems may arise due to the difference in size. Blood clots and skin infections are common and can present complications.

Prenatal ultrasound can reveal the syndrome due to an enlarged limb. If the diagnosis is not made prenatally, it will be easily seen after the child is delivered.

There is no cure for Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, but there are a variety of treatment options available. Surgery can performed to correct the excessive growth of the extremity and in severe cases, amputation may be required. Affected veins can be shrunk or removed and compression garments can be worn to decrease the amount of pain and swelling that the child may experience.