How to Pronounce Alstrom Syndrome
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Alstrom Syndrome Pronunciation
AWL-strum SIN-drohm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
AWL
stress here
strum SIN
drohm
3 syllables
What is Alstrom Syndrome?
A rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the ALMS1 gene, characterized by retinal dystrophy causing blindness in childhood, progressive sensorineural hearing loss, obesity beginning in infancy, type 2 diabetes mellitus typically developing in adolescence, dilated cardiomyopathy, and kidney, liver, and pulmonary dysfunction. Unlike Bardet-Biedl syndrome, there is no polydactyly and intelligence is usually normal.
Questions About Alstrom Syndrome
How do you pronounce Alstrom Syndrome?
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Alstrom Syndrome is pronounced AWL-strum SIN-drohm. The first part rhymes with "all," the second part sounds like "strum" (as in strumming a guitar), and syndrome rhymes with "drome." The stress falls on the first syllable: AWL-strum.
What is the correct way to break Alstrom Syndrome into syllables?
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Alstrom Syndrome breaks down into four syllables: ALS-trom SYN-drohm. The first word has two syllables (ALS-trom), and the second word also has two syllables (SYN-drohm).
What is the most common mispronunciation of Alstrom?
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Many people mistakenly stress the second syllable and say al-STRUM instead of AWL-strum. Remember to put the stress on the first syllable to say it correctly.
Where does the word Alstrom come from?
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Alstrom is named after Carl-Henry Alström, a Swedish physician who first described this condition in the 1950s. In medical terminology, when conditions are named after the doctors who discover them, we call this an "eponym."
What does syndrome mean in Alstrom Syndrome?
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Syndrome (SYN-drohm) is a medical word that means a group of symptoms or signs that happen together. It comes from Greek and Latin words meaning "running together."
Is there a short abbreviation for Alstrom Syndrome?
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Yes, Alstrom Syndrome is often shortened to ALMS, which stands for Alström Syndrome. You might see doctors or researchers write or say "ALMS" when they are talking about this condition quickly.
How would you use Alstrom Syndrome in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The genetic counselor explained that Alstrom Syndrome is a rare inherited condition." You would use it the same way you'd use any other disease name in conversation or medical writing.
What is the difference between saying Alstrom and Alström?
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Both are correct, but Alström (with the accent mark over the 'o') is the more authentic Swedish spelling of the doctor's name. In English medical writing, you'll often see it written as Alstrom without the accent, but both pronunciations sound the same: AWL-strum.