Background: The ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome is a rare disease which follows an autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance. Due to the ectodermal dysplasia there is atresia of the lacrimal duct system and aplasia of the meibomian glands with a defective tear film. Therefore, vascularized corneal scars often form during early adult life.
Patients: Father aged 41 years, and son aged 23 months. Both patients: stenosis/atresia of lacrimal duct systems (the father had twice undergone dacryocystorhinostomy externally) with epiphora, lip-palate clefting, syndactylies of fingers and toes, lobster deformities of hands. Additional ophthalmological findings in the father: bilaterally extracted juvenile cataracts with implantation of intraocular lenses, bilateral extensive vascularized corneal scars. Additional dermatological findings in the father: malignant melanoma of the calf, now in complete remission following several operations on the melanoma and several cycles of chemotherapy for the metastases.
Discussion and therapeutic conclusions: Father and son show the full clinical picture of the EEC syndrome with clefting, lobster-like deformities of the hands and ectodermal dysplasia with tear duct atresia and aplasia of the meibomian glands with defective tear film. During childhood, the main handicapping features are the clefting and the hand deformities with their respective multiple operative revisions. During early adulthood, however, the ocular problems become the predominantly handicapping aspects of the EEC syndrome; due to the ectodermal dysplasia, vascularized corneal scarring develops. Tearing and secondary inflammation due to lacrimal duct atresia has to be treated by early dacryocystorhinostomy. As secondary infections promote the development of corneal scars, one should not postpone the operation too long. Infections have to be treated promptly by local antibiotics. Because of the aplasia of the meibomian glands, artificial tear substitution should be given on a regular basis to support the defective tear film. Thus, the development of vascularized corneal scars can perhaps be delayed. Once corneal scarring has developed, perforating keratoplasty has a poor prognosis due to the ectodermal dysplasia, the absence of the meibomian glands and the defective tear film. Three factors lead to the formation of vascularized corneal scars: recurrent infections of lid margins and conjunctiva due to obstructed tear ducts; defective tear film with insufficient lipid phase due to the aplasia of the meibomian glands; and primary corneal epithelial defects in the course of the generalized ectodermal dysplasia.