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Multiple pterygium syndrome Escobar type


Other Names:
Escobar syndrome; Multiple pterygium syndrome nonlethal type; Pterygium syndrome; Escobar syndrome; Multiple pterygium syndrome nonlethal type; Pterygium syndrome; Multiple pterygium syndrome; Pterygium colli syndrome; Pterygium universale; Autosomal recessive non-lethal multiple pterygium syndrome; Escobar variant multiple pterygium syndrome; EVMPS; Autosomal recessive multiple pterygium syndrome See More
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Multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type is characterized by webbing of skin (pterygium) and a lack of muscle movement (akinesia) that occur before birth. The pterygium typically affect the neck, fingers, elbows, and/or knees. Individuals with multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type may also develop a restriction of the joints, known as arthrogryposis, a sideways curve of the spine (scoliosis), and distinctive facial features. Males with this condition can have undescended testes (cryptorchidism).[1][2]  Mutations in the CHRNG gene cause most cases of this disorder. It tends to be inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion.[1][3] While there is still no cure for this disorder, treatment options will depend on the type and severity of symptoms.
Last updated: 11/16/2016
Symptoms of multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type vary but may include short stature, vertebral (spine) defects, joint contractures, and webbing of the neck, armpit, elbow, knee, between the legs, and of the fingers and toes.[4] The joint contractures may make walking more difficult. Other symptoms may include down-slanting eyes, skins fold over the inner corners of the eyes (epicanthal folds), a small jaw, cleft palate, low set ears, and drooping eyelids (ptosis). Males with Escobar syndrome may have undescended testicles at birth, and females may have absent labia majora.[1][2][4]
Last updated: 11/16/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Antecubital pterygium 0009760
Axillary pterygium 0001060
Finger syndactyly 0006101
Limitation of joint mobility
Decreased joint mobility
Decreased mobility of joints
Limited joint mobility
Limited joint motion
[ more ] 		0001376
Multiple pterygia 0001040
Pectus excavatum
Funnel chest
0000767
Popliteal pterygium 0009756
Scoliosis 0002650
Symphalangism affecting the phalanges of the hand
Fused finger bones of the hand
0009773
Webbed neck
Neck webbing
0000465
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the foot
Abnormal feet morphology
Abnormality of the feet
Foot deformities
Foot deformity
[ more ] 		0001760
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the abdominal wall musculature
Absent/small abdominal wall muscles
Absent/underdeveloped abdominal wall muscles
[ more ] 		0010318
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the skin
Absent/small skin
Absent/underdeveloped skin
[ more ] 		0008065
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita 0002804
Camptodactyly of finger
Permanent flexion of the finger
0100490
Downslanted palpebral fissures
Downward slanting of the opening between the eyelids
0000494
Epicanthus
Eye folds
Prominent eye folds
[ more ] 		0000286
Facial asymmetry
Asymmetry of face
Crooked face
Unsymmetrical face
[ more ] 		0000324
High palate
Elevated palate
Increased palatal height
[ more ] 		0000218
Hypertelorism
Wide-set eyes
Widely spaced eyes
[ more ] 		0000316
Hypogonadism
Decreased activity of gonads
0000135
Intrauterine growth retardation
Prenatal growth deficiency
Prenatal growth retardation
[ more ] 		0001511
Long face
Elongation of face
Increased height of face
Increased length of face
Vertical elongation of face
Vertical enlargement of face
Vertical overgrowth of face
[ more ] 		0000276
Low-set ears
Low set ears
Lowset ears
[ more ] 		0000369
Microcephaly
Abnormally small skull
Decreased circumference of cranium
Decreased size of skull
Reduced head circumference
Small head circumference
[ more ] 		0000252
Micrognathia
Little lower jaw
Small jaw
Small lower jaw
[ more ] 		0000347
Neonatal respiratory distress
Infantile respiratory distress
Newborn respiratory distress
Respiratory distress, neonatal
[ more ] 		0002643
Pointed chin
Pointy chin
Small pointed chin
Witch's chin
[ more ] 		0000307
Ptosis
Drooping upper eyelid
0000508
Short stature
Decreased body height
Small stature
[ more ] 		0004322
Telecanthus
Corners of eye widely separated
0000506
Umbilical hernia 0001537
Vertebral segmentation defect 0003422
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal aortic valve morphology 0001646
Abnormality of the tongue
Abnormal tongue
Tongue abnormality
[ more ] 		0000157
Absence of labia majora
Absent vaginal lips
0008729
Aortic aneurysm
Bulge in wall of large artery that carries blood away from heart
0004942
Cleft palate
Cleft roof of mouth
0000175
Cognitive impairment
Abnormality of cognition
Cognitive abnormality
Cognitive defects
Cognitive deficits
Intellectual impairment
Mental impairment
[ more ] 		0100543
Conductive hearing impairment
Conductive deafness
Conductive hearing loss
[ more ] 		0000405
Cryptorchidism
Undescended testes
Undescended testis
[ more ] 		0000028
Dolichocephaly
Long, narrow head
Tall and narrow skull
[ more ] 		0000268
Failure to thrive
Faltering weight
Weight faltering
[ more ] 		0001508
Gait disturbance
Abnormal gait
Abnormal walk
Impaired gait
[ more ] 		0001288
Hypoplasia of penis
Underdeveloped penis
0008736
Inguinal hernia 0000023
Long philtrum 0000343
Low posterior hairline
Low hairline at back of neck
0002162
Morphological abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract
Abnormal shape of the digestive system
0012718
Nevus
Mole
0003764
Pulmonary hypoplasia
Small lung
Underdeveloped lung
[ more ] 		0002089
Rib fusion
Fused ribs
0000902
Scrotal hypoplasia
Smaller than typical growth of scrotum
0000046
Skeletal muscle atrophy
Muscle degeneration
Muscle wasting
[ more ] 		0003202
Spina bifida occulta 0003298
Strabismus
Cross-eyed
Squint
Squint eyes
[ more ] 		0000486
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of the neck 0000464
Anterior clefting of vertebral bodies 0009761
Arachnodactyly
Long slender fingers
Spider fingers
[ more ] 		0001166
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Bilateral camptodactyly 0005617
Camptodactyly of toe 0001836
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia 0000776
Decreased fetal movement
Less than 10 fetal movements in 12 hours
0001558
Diaphragmatic eventration 0009110
Dislocated radial head 0003083
Downturned corners of mouth
Downturned corners of the mouth
Downturned mouth
[ more ] 		0002714
Dysplastic patella 0006446
Exostosis of the external auditory canal 0004459
Fused cervical vertebrae
Fused neck
0002949
Hip dislocation
Dislocated hips
Dislocation of hip
[ more ] 		0002827
Hypoplastic nipples
Small nipples
0002557
Hypospadias 0000047
Intercrural pterygium 0009757
Kyphosis
Hunched back
Round back
[ more ] 		0002808
Long clavicles
Long collarbone
0000890
Narrow mouth
Small mouth
0000160
Neck pterygia 0009759
Patellar aplasia
Absent kneecap
0006443
Rocker bottom foot
Rocker bottom feet
Rocker-bottom feet
Rockerbottom feet
[ more ] 		0001838
Syndactyly
Webbed fingers or toes
0001159
Talipes calcaneovalgus 0001884
Talipes equinovarus
Club feet
Club foot
Clubfeet
Clubfoot
[ more ] 		0001762
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Most cases of multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type are caused by mutations in the CHRNG gene. The CHRNG gene provides instructions for part of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) protein. The AChR protein is found in skeletal muscle cells and is critical for signaling between nerve and muscle cells. Signaling between these cells is necessary for movement.[2][3]

Mutations in other genes have been identified that cause multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type. Some people with this condition do not have an identified mutation in any of the known associated genes associated with this condition. The cause of the condition in these individuals is unknown.[2]

Last updated: 11/16/2016
Multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms. Symptoms that may raise the suspicion of this diagnosis include: multiple pterygium, joint contractures present from birth, characteristic facial features, and other congenital anomalies such as undescended testicles (cryptorchidism).[5] Genetic testing may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Last updated: 11/16/2016

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.
  • Orphanet lists international laboratories offering diagnostic testing for this condition.
There is currently no cure for multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type. As a result treatment is aimed at managing the associated symptoms. Orthopedics should be involved for issues arising from scoliosis. Infections should be treated promptly. Contracture releases have been performed with variable outcome. Physical therapy is important to help minimize contractures. When ptosis (droopy eyelids) is present, the individual should be referred to ophthalmology. Individuals should also be referred to audiology due to the risk of conductive hearing loss.[4]
Last updated: 11/16/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • Orphanet lists European clinical trials, research studies, and patient registries enrolling people with this condition. 

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Multiple pterygium syndrome Escobar type. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Multiple pterygium syndrome Escobar type. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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  • I would like to learn more about multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar type. How is this condition treated? What are the risks and benefits of back surgery? See answer


  1. Multiple pterygium syndrome, Escobar variant. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. 7/9/2016; http://www.omim.org/entry/265000. Accessed 11/16/2016.
  2. multiple pterygium syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. November 2011; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/multiple-pterygium-syndrome. Accessed 11/16/2016.
  3. Morgan NV et al. Mutations in the embryonal subunit of the acetylcholine receptor (CHRNG) cause lethal and Escobar variants of multiple pterygium syndrome. American Journal of Human Genetics. 2006; 79(2):390-395. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1559492/.
  4. Pterygium Syndrome, Multiple. NORD. 2004; https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/pterygium-syndrome-multiple/. Accessed 11/16/2016.
  5. Sung, Ki Hyuka; Lee, Sang-Heonb, Kim, Namshinb, Cho, Tae-Joond. Orthopaedic manifestations and treatment outcome of two siblings with Escobar syndrome and homozygous mutations in the CHRNG gene. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B. May 2015; 24(3):262-267. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25411939.