Monozygotic twins discordant for Ullrich-Turner syndrome

Ullrich-Turner syndrome occurred in one of a pair of female twins. The chromosome constitution of the affected twin was 45,X/46,XX and that of the normal twin 46,XX. Investigation of banded chromosomes, red cell antigens, HLA types, red cell enzymes, and serum proteins indicates monozygosity. The twins are discordant for height, pterygium colli, ovarian function, strabismus, dental eruption, external ear formation, hearing loss, and performance scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Test. All of these differences can be attributed to X monosomy in one cell line in the affected twin, presumably resulting from mitotic nondisjunction or anaphase lag early during embryonic development. Ten other pairs of apparently monozygotic twins discordant for the Ullrich-Turner syndrome have been reported previously, and the findings in these cases are reviewed.