15q24 Deletion
The information for this summary of 15q24 deletion syndrome comes from research publications. This is not meant to take the place of medical advice.
Click here for our full 15q24 Deletion Gene Guide
The online Gene Guide includes more information about 15q24 deletion such as the chance of having another child with this condition, behavior and development concerns linked to 15q24 deletion or specialists to consider for people with this condition. Share this resource with family members or your clinical providers.
15q24 deletion syndrome is also called Witteveen-Kolk syndrome or 15q24 microdeletion syndrome. For this webpage, we will be using the name 15q24 deletion syndrome to encompass the wide range of variants observed in the people identified.
What is 15q24 deletion syndrome?
15q24 deletion syndrome happens when a person has an extra piece of chromosome 15, one of the body’s 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes are structures in our cells that house our genes. The 15q24 deletion piece can affect learning and how the body develops.
Key Role
Genes within the 15q24 region are important for brain development and function.
Symptoms
Because genes in the 15q24 region are important in brain development and function, many people who have 15q24 deletion syndrome have:
- Developmental delay
- Intellectual disability
- Failure to thrive
- Behavioral issues
- Low muscle tone
- Loose joints
- Defects of the eye, limbs, gastrointestinal tract, and genitals in both males and females
How many people have 15q24 deletion syndrome?
As of 2025, about 55 people with 15q24 deletion syndrome have been described in medical research.
Support Resources
- Simons Searchlight Community – 15q24 Deletion Facebook group
- Unique – 15q24 Deletion Guidebook
GeneReviews
GeneReviews are a great resource to bring to your child’s clinicians. These publications provide a summary of current research on genetic conditions and information on ongoing care.
Check out the GeneReviews for 15q24 Deletion.
Research Article Summaries
We currently do not have any article summaries for 15q24 Deletion, but we add resources to our website as they become available.
The information available about 15q24 Deletion is limited, and families and doctors share a critical need for more information. As we learn more from children who have this gene change, we expect our list of resources and information to grow.
Full versions of published research articles can be found on PubMed. PubMed is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) online database that is free. It has a collection of both medical and scientific research articles. A PubMed search for 15q24 Deletion articles can be found here.
Research Opportunities
Simons Searchlight
Help the Simons Searchlight team learn more about 15q24 Deletion genetic changes by taking part in our research. You can learn more about the project and sign up here.
Family Stories
We do not currently have any stories from 15q24 Deletion families.
Click here to share your family’s story!