Williams Syndrome (WS)

Williams Syndrome (WS) may also be called Beuren syndrome, elfin faces syndrome, or Williams-Beuren syndrome. This is a rare genetic condition mainly characterized by developmental delays, cardiovascular disease, commendable verbal skills, and a strong preference for music. Though individuals with WS are highly sociable, they may not be able to aptly process certain nuanced cues. Distinctive facial features include having a big forehead, short and broad-tipped nose, wide mouth, and full lips. This syndrome is due to the spontaneous deletion of 26 to 28 genes in chromosome 7 during conception. There is a 50% chance of a person with WS to pass the syndrome to his or her offspring. WS was first described by John Cyprian Phipps Williams, a New Zealand cardiologist, and his colleagues in 1961. A.J. Beuren, a German physician, also described the syndrome in 1962.