New autosomal dominant syndrome resembling craniofrontonasal dysplasia

Craniofrontonasal dysplasia, a distinct malformation syndrome, is characterized by varying degrees of frontonasal dysplasia, craniosynostosis, and variable extracranial abnormalities--in particular, brittle nails with prominent longitudinal grooves or splitting. There is marked female preponderance and variable expressivity not only between males and females but also between females. However, mode of inheritance is still unclear. We describe a large Arab kindred with 16 individuals (9 males, 7 females) in 4 generations having an apparently new autosomal dominant syndrome with features of craniofrontonasal dysplasia but with normal or slightly broad nasal tip and without evidence of craniosynostosis or nail abnormalities. These cases were segregating in 5 sibships and include male to male transmission with full expression in males and females. Chromosomes of the proposita and her father were normal. Aarskog syndrome has been also considered in the differential diagnosis and was excluded.