Moebius syndrome
Background
The Moebius Research Trust funds and furthers research into the condition. They need a teaspoon of blood from 100 people with the condition to help with a three year research programme being carried out at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. As there are only 200 or so people in the UK with the condition, this task is proving difficult. If you, or anyone you know, can help donate blood please contact Dionne Read at the Trust, Tel: 01875 819822 e-mail: info@moebiusresearchtrust.org
Moebius syndrome was first described by von Graefe (1880) and Moebius (1888). It is a rare congenital disorder associated with abnormal development of the nerve supply to the head and neck which is divided into twelve cranial nerves. The main nerves affected are the sixth and seventh cranial nerves leading to congenital facial palsy (paralysis).