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Werner syndrome
Pronunciation
Definition 1
An inherited disorder marked by rapid aging that begins in early adolescence. Patients may be shorter than average, and have health problems such as loss and graying of hair, hardening of the arteries, thinning of the bones, diabetes, and thin, hardened skin. They also have an increased risk of cancer, especially osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer). Werner syndrome is caused by a mutation (change) in a gene involved in cell division. It is a type of autosomal recessive gene disease. Also called adult progeria and WS. (NCI Dictionary)
Definition 2
A rare, autosomal recessive syndrome caused by mutations in the WRN gene. It is characterized by the appearance of accelerated aging following puberty. It is associated with the development of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, cataracts, and cancer. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 3
An autosomal recessive disorder that causes premature aging in adults, characterized by sclerodermal skin changes, cataracts, subcutaneous calcification, muscular atrophy, a tendency to diabetes mellitus, aged appearance of the face, baldness, and a high incidence of neoplastic disease. (NLM, Medical Subject Headings)