Aplasia cutis congenita, terminal limb defects and falciform retinal folds: confirmation of a distinct syndrome of vascular disruption

We describe a son of consanguineous parents with congenital scalp defects, transverse limb abnormalities, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and bilateral falciform retinal folds. Aplasia cutis congenita with transverse limb defects are features of Adams-Oliver syndrome, which is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant condition. The association of bilateral retinal folds and brain abnormalities with scalp defects and terminal limb defects has only once been previously described. It is possible that these cases represent a severe variant of Adams-Oliver syndrome. We, however, suggest that they may characterize a new, distinct, autosomal recessive syndrome, involving vascular disruption.