Diseases with ocular and dental abnormalities.

This report gives an overall view on the aspect of numerous diseases and symptom complexes affecting both eyes and teeth. The knowledge of these disorders enables the ophthalmologist to suspect and recognize certain types of dental malformation and enables the dentist to discover certain eye defects. Moreover, it is important that clinicians be aware that simultaneous eye and tooth defects may be the indication of possible disturbances in other, apparently unrelated, organs or systems.

Retinitis pigmentosa and discoid lupus erythematosus.

A 41 year old male is presented who suffers from both advanced retinitis pigmentosa and active discoid lupus erthematosus. A possible association between the two pigmenting disorders is discussed as well as the treatment of the discoid lupus with potentially retinotoxic hydroxychloroquine.

A newly recognized partial alopecia syndrome associated with distinct personality traits.

Upon examining two double first cousins who presented with a newly recognized partial alopecia syndrome, previously reported in one, we discovered that the two shared almost identical personalities. This prompted us to search the literature for other genetic syndromes which are characterized by distinct personality traits. The article reports on two affected members of a family with a syndrome associated with definite somatic and behavioral characteristics most probably transmitted as an autosomal recessive disorder.

Oculocutaneous syndromes.

Research in genetics and the collaboration of various medical disciplines are responsible for the discovery of many new syndromes. The association of ocular and skin malformations is not astonishing when one remembers that the embryonic development of the eye and the skin are of ectodermal origin; both the eye and skin may reflect a variety of systemic disturbances occurring during their formation, or represent genetic disorders. An ocular and a dermatological feature may be the first indication of a possible disturbance on other organs.

Glaucoma in Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis associated with congenital Horner's syndrome.

We report a retrospective study of five patients with monocular Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis associated with an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome. The minimum follow-up was 10 years. The presenting findings were cyclitis in three of the patients and heterochromia iridis associated with blepharoptosis in the other two.