The Medici syndrome: a medico-historical puzzle.
The historical significance of the Medici family of Florence is widely recognised, but the diseases which afflicted leading members of this family have only been scientifically studied in recent decades. Paleopathological findings on exhumed skeletons, supplemented by medical descriptions in historical documents, have permitted a retrospective diagnosis of a triple pathological syndrome in the senior branch of the Medici family. Peripheral joint and spinal conditions, with the presence of skin disease, are identified in several generations of the family in the 15th century and are presented as the 'Medici syndrome'. Radiological findings are compared with macro- and microscopical descriptions in the diagnosis of the peripheral joint disease and spinal ankylosis/stenosis within the syndrome.
School of History and Philosophy, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. gmweisz@aol.com
George M
GM
Weisz
Marco
M
Matucci-Cerinic
William R
WR
Albury
Donatella
D
Lippi
D004890:Erythema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D005197:Famous Persons; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D010375:Pedigree; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome