---
description: Synonyms: t hrombocytopenia with a bsent r adius (hence TAR) syndrome, tetraphocomelia-thrombocytopenia syndrome This is a rare autosomal recessive condition....
title: TAR syndrome
image: https://ogcdn.net/9d266224-4307-4b9d-b73f-00c1bdbd4759/v11/TAR%20syndrome/rgba(188%2C%2049%2C%20123%2C%201)/https%3A%2F%2Fopengraph.b-cdn.net%2Fproduction%2Fimages%2F2ed46913-f157-43c3-9418-19fea49af16c.png%3Ftoken%3DUl4O1QAtXTaMUjOfpBooUL-C8jajM-YwYFPrjCtr6ms%26height%3D1080%26width%3D1080%26expires%3D33315971423/og.png
---

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* TAR syndrome

# TAR syndrome

Peer reviewed by [ Patient clinician team](https://patient.info/authors/clinical)Last updated by [Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP ](https://patient.info/authors/dr-hayley-willacy)Last updated 20 Apr 2011

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Medical Professionals

Professional Reference articles are designed for health professionals to use. They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. You may find one of our [health articles](https://patient.info/health) more useful.

### In this article:

* [Epidemiology](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#epidemiology)
* [Presentation](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#presentation)
* [Differential diagnosis](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#differential-diagnosis)
* [Investigations](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#investigations)
* [Associated diseases ](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#associated-diseases)
* [Management](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#management)
* [Complications](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#complications)
* [Prognosis](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#prognosis)
* [Prevention](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#prevention)
* [Further reading and references](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#furtherreading)

_Synonyms:_ _**t**_ _hrombocytopenia with_ _**a**_ _bsent_ _**r**_ _adius (hence TAR) syndrome, tetraphocomelia-thrombocytopenia syndrome_

Continue reading below

## Epidemiology

* This is a rare autosomal recessive condition.
* The prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1 in 100,000.[1](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-1 "Toriello HV; Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome")

## Presentation[2](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-2 "Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM)")

* Thrombocytopenia \- may be transient, symptoms usually present in the first week of life, with purpura, petechiae, epistaxis, melaena, haemoptysis, haematuria, haematemesis.
* Head and neck - intracranial bleed, learning difficulties, cerebellar hypoplasia, brachycephaly, micrognathia, squint, ptosis, small upturned nose, naevus flammeus on forehead.
* Upper limb abnormalities - bilateral absence of radii, hypoplasia or absence of ulna (may be bilateral), abnormal humerus, carpal bone hypoplasia or fusion, hypoplastic phalanges (but thumbs are always present). The thumbs are usually of normal appearance, but held in a position of metacarpophalangeal flexion.
* Abdomen - pancreatic cysts, Meckel's diverticulum.
* Spine and pelvis - spina bifida, delayed motor development, hip dislocation, coxa valga.
* Lower limb anomalies (47%) - knee subluxation, patellar dislocation, femoral or tibial torsion, fibula may be absent.

Continue reading below

## Differential diagnosis[1](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-1 "Toriello HV; Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome")

* Fanconi's syndrome
* Holt-Oram syndrome - abnormalities of the upper limbs and heart.
* RAPADILINO syndrome (relating to: radial hypoplasia/aplasia, patellar hypoplasia/aplasia, cleft or highly arched palate, diarrhoea, dislocated joints, small stature and other abnormalities).
* Roberts' syndrome - prenatal and postnatal growth restriction, craniofacial anomalies, limb deficiencies and genital hyperplasia.
* Trisomy 18 (Edwards' syndrome).
* VACTERL association (= **V** ertebral defects, **A** norectal malformations, **C** ardiovascular defects, **T** racheo-oesophageal defects, (o)**E** sophageal atresia, **R** enal abnormalities, **L** imb deformities) - a syndrome of congenital anomalies including vertebral dysgenesis and renal and limb anomalies.

## Investigations

### Laboratory tests[3](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-3 "Wu JK et al, Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Medscape, Sep 2009")

* FBC may show:  

  * Low platelet count - 15-30 x 109/L.
  * Eosinophilia (in 50% of patients).
  * Leukocytosis - WBC greater than 35 x 109/L with left shift, leukaemoid reaction.
  * Anaemia secondary to bleeding.
* Genetic tests - although thought to be an autosomal recessive condition, genetic testing is usually normal, helping differentiation from other congenital conditions (see Differential diagnosis, above)

### Radio-imaging

Ultrasound - transvaginal ultrasound can pick up skeletal involvement as early as 13 weeks of gestation. The presence of radial aplasia signals the need to scan for abnormalities of the face, extremities and kidneys to differentiate this condition from other syndromes.[4](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-4 "Donnenfeld AE, Wiseman B, Lavi E, et al; Prenatal diagnosis of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome by ultrasound and cordocentesis. Prenat Diagn. 1990 Jan;10(1):29-35.")

### Procedures

* Cordocentesis for fetal sampling may detect thrombocytopenia prenatally.[4](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-4 "Donnenfeld AE, Wiseman B, Lavi E, et al; Prenatal diagnosis of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome by ultrasound and cordocentesis. Prenat Diagn. 1990 Jan;10(1):29-35.") The risks are:  

  * 1-2% fetal loss.
  * Prolonged bleeding from the puncture site.
* Bone marrow sampling may reveal:  

  * Normal or hypercellular bone marrow.
  * Decreased, absent, or immature megakaryocytes.
  * Small, basophilic, vacuolated megakaryocytes.
  * Erythroid hyperplasia.

Continue reading below

## Associated diseases [2](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-2 "Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM)")[5](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-5 "Greenhalgh KL, Howell RT, Bottani A, et al; Thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome: a clinical genetic study. J Med Genet. 2002 Dec;39(12):876-81.")

* Cow's milk intolerance.
* Renal abnormalities, eg horseshoe kidney.
* Cardiac abnormalities eg Atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), Fallot's tetralogy.

## Management

### Medical

* Prenatal transfusion of platelets has successfully been carried out on a fetus identified as having severe thrombocytopenia on cordocentesis.[6](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-6 "Weinblatt M, Petrikovsky B, Bialer M, et al; Prenatal evaluation and in utero platelet transfusion for thrombocytopenia absent radii syndrome. Prenat Diagn. 1994 Sep;14(9):892-6.")
* General measures to reduce the risk of bleeding should be taken if the platelet count drops below 80 x 109/L.[3](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-3 "Wu JK et al, Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Medscape, Sep 2009") These include:  

  * Avoidance of trauma, eg children should wear a soft helmet.
  * Avoidance of antiplatelet medication, egaspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  * Prolonged pressure on injection sites.
* Acute bleeding from a limb injury should be treated with pressure and limb elevation. The patient should be kept warm and conveyed to hospital as soon as possible.
* Platelet transfusion should be considered if the risk of transfusion (infection, anaphylaxis, haemolytic reaction) is superseded by the risk of significant bleeding.[3](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-3 "Wu JK et al, Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Medscape, Sep 2009") The guideline (taken from thrombocytopenia management) is a platelet count below 40 x 109).
* Leukocyte-reduced platelet concentrations may be indicated in patients at risk of severe bleeding.
* Patients who do not respond to transfusion may be helped by HLA-matched platelets from family members, although this does not guarantee success, as non-HLA antigen reactions may occur.
* Bone marrow transplantation should be considered for patients resistant to platelet transfusions.

### Other measures

* Physiotherapy and occupational therapy may help to improve function.
* Surgical correction of deformities may be necessary. This is sometimes preceded by splinting of the affected part to improve function.
* If surgery is not possible the goal should be to improve independence and functioning as much as possible. Adaptive devices and aids may be needed to help with washing, dressing and feeding.
* Prostheses are generally not helpful due to muscular weakness.
* Splenectomy is usually an effective cure for thrombocytopenia persisting into adulthood.

## Complications

Complications are usually related to haemorrhage, especially intracranial haemorrhage.

## Prognosis

* If patients survive the first two years of life, the life expectancy is normal.
* The main cause of mortality is haemorrhage.
* Bleeding, especially intracranial haemorrhage, may result in significant morbidity.
* The prognosis regarding hand and upper extremity function is usually good, providing radial aplasia is the only skeletal abnormality.

## Prevention

Genetic counselling and early prenatal diagnosis raises the possibility of termination should the fetus be shown to be affected.[7](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-7 "Ward RE, Bixler D, Provisor AJ, et al; Parent to child transmission of the thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome. Am J Med Genet Suppl. 1986;2:207-14.") A technique called array comparative genomic hybridisation - a method of assessing the errors in DNA reproduction associated with the condition - has considerably assisted the genetic counselling process.[8](https://patient.info/doctor/haematology/tar-syndrome.htm#ref-8 "Uhrig S, Schlembach D, Waldispuehl-Geigl J, et al; Impact of array comparative genomic hybridization-derived information on genetic counseling demonstrated by prenatal diagnosis of the TAR (thrombocytopenia-absent-radius) syndrome-associated microdeletion 1q21.1. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Oct;81(4):866-8.")

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###  Further reading and references 

1. [Toriello HV](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=20301781); Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius Syndrome
2. Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Online Mendelian Inheritance In Man (OMIM)
3. Wu JK et al, Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome, Medscape, Sep 2009
4. [Donnenfeld AE, Wiseman B, Lavi E, et al](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=2179938); Prenatal diagnosis of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome by ultrasound and cordocentesis. Prenat Diagn. 1990 Jan;10(1):29-35.
5. [Greenhalgh KL, Howell RT, Bottani A, et al](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=12471199); Thrombocytopenia-absent radius syndrome: a clinical genetic study. J Med Genet. 2002 Dec;39(12):876-81.
6. [Weinblatt M, Petrikovsky B, Bialer M, et al](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=7845901); Prenatal evaluation and in utero platelet transfusion for thrombocytopenia absent radii syndrome. Prenat Diagn. 1994 Sep;14(9):892-6.
7. [Ward RE, Bixler D, Provisor AJ, et al](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=3146292); Parent to child transmission of the thrombocytopenia absent radius (TAR) syndrome. Am J Med Genet Suppl. 1986;2:207-14.
8. [Uhrig S, Schlembach D, Waldispuehl-Geigl J, et al](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Abstract&list%5Fuids=17847015); Impact of array comparative genomic hybridization-derived information on genetic counseling demonstrated by prenatal diagnosis of the TAR (thrombocytopenia-absent-radius) syndrome-associated microdeletion 1q21.1\. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Oct;81(4):866-8.

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#### Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP 

##### General Practitioner, Medical Author

MBChB (1992), DRCOG, DFFP, MRCOG (Part 1) MRCGP (2007), DFSRH (2013), MSc - medical education (2020)

Dr Hayley Willacy was an NHS GP working in northwest England, who retired from clinical practice in 2022 after 30 years. 

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