A Case of Werner's Syndrome

Abstract

Werner's syndrome is a hereditary disorder characterized by premature aging. The chief complaints include conditions associated with aging, such as cataracts, atrophic skin, and scleroderma; additionally, voice disorders are also diagnostic for this condition. This report describes a 42-year-old female patient diagnosed with Werner's syndrome by hereditary analysis.
The patient complained that the condition of her voice had been progressively deteriorating over a period of 30 years. Endoscopic findings showed stiffness and atrophy of the vocal cords. Her voice was rough and breathy, and the maximum phonation time was 3 seconds. The vocal condition did not improve with medical therapy; however, she did not require surgery as an additional treatment. As the patient gradually developed sclerosis of the skin and finger contracture, she was diagnosed as having Werner's syndrome through a genetic test conducted in our Department of Dermatology.
Voice disorders have been observed in 80% of patients with Werner's syndrome. These vocal changes are often attributed to vocal cord atrophy. Due to complications of malignant or metabolic diseases, effective treatment of vocal hoarseness may be difficult. It is important to treat the vocal conditions according to the patient's specific requirements and physical condition.