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Vocal cord abnormalities in Williams syndrome: A further manifestation of elastin deficiency
Author(s) -
Vaux Keith K.,
Wojtczak Henry,
Benirschke Kurt,
Jones Kenneth Lyons
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.20169
Subject(s) - elastin , cord , medicine , etiology , vocal cord dysfunction , pathology , surgery , asthma
Williams syndrome (WS) is due to a deletion in the WS critical region at 7q11.23 which includes the elastin gene ( ELN ). One of the most characteristic features of this disorder is a harsh, brassy, or hoarse voice but the etiology of the vocal characteristics are unknown. We report two patients with WS who had bilateral vocal cord abnormalities, bringing to four the number of children with WS in whom such defects have been documented. We suggest that vocal cord abnormalities may be a far more common feature of WS than has been previously suspected, and that mild vocal cord dysfunction caused by abnormal vocal cord elastin may be the cause of the hoarse voice in this condition. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.