Waardenburg syndrome type 1

Abstract

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare disease characterized by sensorineural deafness in association with pigmentary anomalies and defects of neural-crest-derived tissues. Depending on additional symptoms, WS is classified into four types, WS1, WS2, WS3 and WS4. WS1 and WS3 are attributed to mutations in PAX3, whereas WS2 is heterogeneous, being caused by mutations in the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor gene in some but not all affected families. WS4 is attributed to mutations in the endothelin-3 or the endothelin-B receptor genes and SOX10 gene. WS1 is an auditory-pigmentary disorder comprising sensorineural hearing loss and pigmentary disturbances of the iris, hair, and skin, along with dystopia canthorum. We report a case with a confirmed diagnosis of WS1 and review the relevant literature for this rare disorder.