Clinical diversity of hereditary Duane's retraction syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To define the spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations of Duane's retraction syndrome (DRS) in a large family.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 110 among 114 living relatives in an extended family.


METHODS
History and ophthalmic examination obtained on all participants.


METHODS
Ocular motility, strabismus, visual acuity, binocularity, associated neurologic problems.


RESULTS
Twenty-five individuals were affected with DRS. Twenty-four subjects (96%) had bilateral DRS, but there was a broad spectrum of severity. Strabismus occurred in 76% and amblyopia in 48%. Associated findings included fourth cranial nerve palsy, partial third cranial nerve palsy, nystagmus, seizures, and deafness. Fourth cranial nerve palsies and manifest strabismus tended to cluster within single family units.


CONCLUSIONS
Strabismus and amblyopia are much more common with bilateral DRS than with unilateral DRS. There is much phenotypic variability among individuals within families with hereditary Duane's syndrome. The responsible gene(s) may affect the development of many cranial nerves. Genetic compounding may play a role in the phenotypic segregation seen within this large family.
Chung
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, USA.
Stout
J T
JT
Borchert
M S
MS
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004370:Duane Retraction Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D013285:Strabismus / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology