Ascher's syndrome
Encyclopedia
Ascher's syndrome, or Laffer-Ascher Syndrome, is a rare disorder first described in 1920.Gorlin RJ,Pindborg JJ,CohenMM.Syndromes of the head and neck, 4th ed.New York:McGraw-Hill, 1976: 500-501. It is characterized by by repeated episodes of lip and eyelid edema and occasionally euthyroid goiter. The syndrome generally occurs within the first 20 years of life. About 100 cases had been described as of 1998.
Signs and Symptoms
- BlepharochalasisBlepharochalasisBlepharochalasis is an inflammation of the eyelid that is characterized by exacerbations and remissions of eyelid edema, which results in a stretching and subsequent atrophy of the eyelid tissue resulting in redundant folds over the lid margins...
: Recurrent episodes of swelling cause stretching and atrophy of the upper eyelid skin. This results in the relaxation of the tarsal fold allowing tissue to slack over the palpebral fissure. In severe cases, the lower eyelid is also involved. - Double Upper lip : Swelling causes duplication between the inner and outer parts of the upper lip. Occasionally the lower lip is involved.
- Euthyroid Goiter : Occurs in 10% of cases. It is not usually associated with toxic symptoms. Goiter usually presents several years after initial eyelid and lip edema.