We describe a 5-generation Hispanic family with 13 males and 1 female affected with MASA syndrome. The proposita, a 17-year-old female, and her affected male relatives shared many of the cognate manifestations--mental retardation (14/14), aphasia or delayed speech (13/13), shuffling gait (8/13), adduction of thumbs (14/14)--as well as scoliosis (2/13) and increased deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities (10/13). Southern analysis with the polymorphic DNA probes DXS14 (Xp11), DXS72 (Xq21), and F8C (Xq28) confirmed linkage to the Xq28 region with a maximum lod score of 3.01 for this family.

We describe a boy with short stature, developmental delay, unusual face, right iris coloboma, malformed ears, micrognathia, and skeletal anomalies including hyperphalangy of the index fingers, bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly, short halluces, and scoliosis. Internal anomalies included asymmetric and dilated cerebral ventricles and ventricular septal defect. The neonatal history of small jaw with feeding and respiratory difficulties suggested a Pierre Robin sequence, but there was no cleft palate. Two maternal uncles with similar anomalies had died at ages 13 months and 5 years, respectively. RFLP studies with the DNA probes DXS72 and F8C were consistent with but not diagnostic of X-linked recessive inheritance. The pattern of anomalies was compatible with a diagnosis of Catel-Manzke syndrome, but a novel dysostosis syndrome must also be considered.

No abstract