Resources for Clinicians & Researchers

Professional Literature & Clinical Resources

Peer-reviewed research, growth charts, surgery data, and clinical guidance for Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), Trisomy 9, and related rare chromosome disorders. Resources for genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, neonatal care, and long-term management.

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Growth Charts & Surgery Registry

SOFT provides the only known growth curves specific to Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13, plus data from over 3,000 parent-reported surgeries and procedures to help clinicians counsel families on intervention outcomes.

AAP Clinical Report & SOFT Summary

The 2025 AAP Clinical Report represents a turning point in how Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18 are discussed and managed in clinical settings. SOFT has published a plain-language summary for families and clinicians.

Professional Literature
St. Louis et al., 2023 — JTCVS
AATS 2023 Expert Consensus: Care of Children with Trisomy 13 or 18 and Congenital Heart Defect
Expert consensus guidance on cardiac surgery candidacy and management for children with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.
Weaver MS et al., 2018 — Pediatrics
Eliciting Narratives to Inform Care for Infants with Trisomy 18
Family Partnerships section, October 2018.
Kosiv KA et al., 2017 — Pediatrics
Congenital Heart Surgery on In-Hospital Mortality in Trisomy 13 and 18
Volume 140, Issue 5. Documents a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality associated with congenital heart surgery.
Maeda et al., 2011 — Am J Med Genet Part A
The Impact of Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13 in Japan
Review of 134 children with Trisomy 18 and 27 with Trisomy 13 from the Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.
Kobayashi et al., 2010 — Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
Radical Surgery for a Ventricular Septal Defect Associated with Trisomy
Five female infants with Trisomy 18 underwent full cardiac repair; all survived surgery with an average post-surgery survival of 815 days.
Kaneko Y et al., 2008 — Am J Med Genet Part A
Intensive Cardiac Management in Patients with Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18
Review of 31 consecutive Japanese infants with Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18, showing significantly improved survival with active treatment.
Graham et al., 2004 — Am J Cardiol
Effectiveness of Cardiac Surgery in Trisomies 13 and 18 (Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium)
Report of 35 cardiac surgeries across 48 reporting centers in the US, Canada, and Europe.
Carey JC, 2005 — SOFT Research Newsletter
Health Supervision and Anticipatory Guidance for Infants and Children with Trisomy 18 and 13
Updated from 1993.
Pearson A., 2015 — BMJ
Never Say Never About Our Child
A parent-carer asks healthcare professionals to reconsider the concept of false hope in the context of trisomy diagnoses.
Koogler et al., 2013 — Hastings Center Report
Lethal Language, Lethal Decisions
Examines how conditions no longer uniformly lethal continue to be labeled as such in clinical practice.
Guon et al., 2013 — AJMG
Our Children Are Not a Diagnosis: Parents Who Continue Pregnancy After Trisomy 13 or 18
Volume 164, Issue 2, February 2014.
Janvier A et al., 2011 — Pediatrics
Ethical Rounds: An Infant with Trisomy 18 and a Ventricular Septal Defect
Two neonatologists and an unrelated parent present differing views on care decisions.
McCaffrey M., 2016 — Video
Every Case Is Unique: Optimal Medical Care for Babies Born with Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18
Dr. Martin McCaffrey speaking at the Perinatal Conference in Dublin, 2016.
Lebedoff & Carey, 2021 — AJMG
Parent-Reported Histories of Adults with Trisomy 13
March 2021. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62165
Weaver MS et al., 2021 — Am J Med Genet A
Interdisciplinary Care of Children with Trisomy 13 and 18
March 2021; 185(3):966-977.
Pyle AK et al., 2018 — Journal of Perinatology
Management Options and Parental Voice in the Treatment of Trisomy 13 and 18
An ethical analysis of whether medical and surgical interventions should be offered to parents of newborns with Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18.
Baty BJ et al., 1994 — AJMG
Natural History of Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13: I. Growth, Physical Assessment, Medical Histories, Survival
Includes growth and weight charts. Foundational reference.
Farmakis SG et al., 2019 — Am J Med Genet A
Solid Tumor Screening Recommendations in Trisomy 18
Verrotti A et al., 2015 — Seizure
Epilepsy and Chromosome 18 Abnormalities: A Review
Peron A & Carey JC, 2014 — Wiley Online Library
The Molecular Genetics of Trisomy 18: Phenotype-Genotype Correlations
Cereda A & Carey JC, 2012 — Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
The Trisomy 18 Syndrome
Cooper et al., 2019 — J Am Heart Assoc
Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Trisomy 13 and 18: Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database Analysis
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.012349
TRIS Project — Ongoing
The TRIS Project: Tracking Rare Incidence Syndromes
An ongoing research project managed by Dr. D.A. Bruns at Southern Illinois University. A range of care and family experience articles available at this link.

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Medical members gain access to our full peer-reviewed library, connection with trisomy-experienced clinicians, and resources for the families you serve. SOFT does not share member information with any outside organization.

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