Urofacial (ochoa) syndrome: can a facial gestalt represent severe voiding dysfunction?

Urofacial (Ochoa) syndrome is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder that features an unusual "inverted" facial expression, such that patients appear to be crying when they smile. This syndrome also involves serious urinary tract disorders, though the diagnosis may be missed because of variability of these problems and failure to recognize the characteristic facial grimacing. The urinary issues usually result in enuresis, urinary tract infection, and hydronephrosis, and some severely affected patients become hypertensive and progress to end-stage renal disease. Early diagnosis is very important for management of urinary problems and best prognosis in these patients. We report the first published case of urofacial syndrome in Turkey. The patient was diagnosed at 16 years of age, after having been followed with the diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infection and vesico-ureteral reflux. Physicians should keep this syndrome in mind for any patient who presents with dysfunctional voiding, particularly in countries with high rates of consanguineous marriage.