Parental age in the blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus, telecanthus complex

Maternal and paternal age and birth order of 14 sporadic cases of the autosomal dominant blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus-telecanthus (BPEI) phenotype were compared to similar statistics from control individuals. Correlation coefficients were determined for paternal age and incidence, maternal age and incidence, and birth order and incidence. The partial correlation coefficient of the father's age and incidence with maternal age and birth order held constant was -0.02 and that for the mother's age and incidence with paternal age and birth order held constant was 0.57. Maternal age seems to have a stronger influence than the paternal age in this group of BPEI patients.