Distichiasis-Lymphedema

Abstract

In 1964, Falls and Kertesz¹described a family in which ten members in five generations showed a new syndrome consisting of distichiasis (extra rows of eyelashes) regularly combined with lymphedema of the lower extremities and sometimes associated with webbed neck and partial ectropion of the lower lids.²Their report included an additional family with a sporadic case. Recently, three new families exhibiting this syndrome have come to our attention. Chynn³described two siblings suffering from extradural cysts but made only a casual reference to the associated distichiasis and lymphedema. A more extensive pedigree of this family was later published by Bergland.⁴Additional details concerning these patients were given to us by Simpson and German (written communication, Jan 14, 1969). (A less complete pedigree of the same family was published earlier by Neel and Schull.²) Information on another large kindred was supplied by S. R. Thompson,