PURPOSE: To define a new clinical entity in a consanguineous family with six children affected by a spondyloocular syndrome, including cataract, crystalline lens malformation, retinal detachmentp osteoporosis, and platyspondyly. To analyze candidate genes of connective tissue disorders as a possible underlying disorder and to demonstrate especially the ocular phenotype. DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Consanguineous parents, one unaffected sibling and five affected children with clinical features of spondylo-ocular syndrome, were demonstrated. Clinical examination, radiologic, laboratory, and cytogenetic as well as moleculargenetic analyses were performed. The segregation of flanking marker alleles of three collagen genes and the interval for osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome were analyzed. Two microsatellite markers located within Pax6CA/GT region were tested for homozygosity. RESULTS: On laboratory investigation a normal excretion of amino acids, mucopolysaccharides, and oligosac, charides could be found. The karyotype was normal. Complete radiologic examination in one index patient revealed a generalized moderate osteoporosis, platyspondyly with fish bone appearance, and greatly enlarged intervertebral. spaces. The candidate genes known to be in Stickler syndrome as well as linkage to the osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome candidate region could be excluded. None of the affected showed homozygosity for the Pax6 microsatellite markers. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the phenotype and the clinical features in this family defines a new Mendelian disorder. It remains to be seen what kind of molecule shared by eye and bone is involved. (C) 2003 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.     «

PURPOSE: To define a new clinical entity in a consanguineous family with six children affected by a spondyloocular syndrome, including cataract, crystalline lens malformation, retinal detachmentp osteoporosis, and platyspondyly. To analyze candidate genes of connective tissue disorders as a possible underlying disorder and to demonstrate especially the ocular phenotype. DESIGN: Observational case series. METHODS: Consanguineous parents, one unaffected sibling and five affected children with clin...     »