WERNER'S SYNDROME

ORIGINALLY believed to be an excessively rare heredofamilial disorder, Werner's syndrome has been recognized with increasing frequency in recent years. The syndrome is featured by the unique combination of physical immaturity, early senescence, premature cataracts, scleroderma-like skin changes, and a tendency toward development of diabetes mellitus.1 This multiplicity of clinical manifestations makes Werner's syndrome of interest to physicians in various branches of medicine.2The varied components of Werner's syndrome do not appear in an orderly sequence and not all cases exemplify the syndrome in its entirety.3 Evidences of physical immaturity in Werner's syndrome are the short stature, slender, tapering extremities, and stocky trunk surmounted by a protuberant abdomen.4 Underdevelopment of the genitalia, as well as menstrual disturbances and a low degree of fertility, occurs commonly as part of the syndrome.5 Signs of premature senescence appear in the third or fourth decade.4 These include dry, wrinkled skin, gray hair,8 cataracts, a