CONGENITAL CATARACTS IN SISTERS WITH CONGENITAL ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA

To the Editor:—I have read with great interest the suggestion of Dr. S. J. Thannhauser (Differential Diagnosis of Ectodermal Dysplasia and of Rothmund's syndrome, The Journal, January 26, p. 238) that the patients described are examples of Rothmund's syndrome. I am inclined to agree with his suggestion after looking up the pertinent literature on the subject (including Rothmund, A.: Ueber Katarakt in Verbindung mit einer eigenthümlichen Hautdegeneration, Arch. f. Ophth.14: 159, 1868. Seefelder, R.: Ueber familiäres Auftreten von Katarakt und Poikilodermie, Ztschr. f. Augenh.86:81 [May] 1935. Schnyder, H. F.: Ueber Katarakt bei poikilodermieartiger Hauterkrankung, Klin. Monatsbl. f. Augenh.92:408, 1934. Thannhauser, S. J.: Wermer's Syndrome [Progeria of the Adult] and Rothmund's Syndrome: Two Types of Closely Related Heredofamilial Atrophic Dermatoses with Juvenile Cataracts and Endocrine Features: A Critical Study with Five New Cases, Ann. Int. Med.23:559 [Oct.] 1945). I apologize that this syndrome