Infantile cortical hyperostosis, Caffey's disease, involving two cousins

Abstract

Two cases of infantile cortical hyperostosis are presented in the hope of eliciting word of increased incidence seen by others. These two children are cousins born within 24 h of each other in separate cities, and their disease followed similar clinical courses. Their 14-year-old maternal uncle appeared to have had symptoms identical to those of Caffey's disease at three months of age. The apparent immunity of premature infants to infantile cortical hyperostosis is a previously unnoticed feature that we have come across in reviewing the literature. In analyzing the many theories proposed by different investigators as the pathogenesis of Caffey's disease, the following conclusions are reached. I) Multiple causal factors may have to combine to produce Caffey's disease. II) There may be a spectrum of Caffey's diseases with different pathogeneses. III) Should the incidence of infantile cortical hyperstosis increase, all the previously suspected causal factors must be reexamined.