Weissenbacher-Zweymüller syndrome: a distinct autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia

The Weissenbacher-Zweymüller syndrome (WZS) is defined as congenital neonatal rhizomelic dwarfism with metaphyseal widening of the long bones and vertebral coronal clefts. Catch-up growth after 2-3 years is one of the striking manifestations. It is generally thought that WZS is a neonatal expression of the Stickler syndrome, even though in the latter, myopia, retinal detachment and a progressive metaphyseal dysplasia are characteristics that are not found in WZS. A critical analysis of all published patients with WZS in addition to 5 patients in 3 new families, shows that the WZS is a distinct syndrome of delayed skeletal maturation, different from the Stickler syndrome, and inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The recognition of its unique characteristics has important implications in genetic counseling.