Open Journal of Ophthalmol ogy, 2011, 1, 1-3
doi:10.4236/ojoph.2011.11001 Published Online November 2011 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojoph)
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. OJOph
1
Fraser Syndrome: Case Report with Review of
Literature
Saruban Pasu1*, Luna Dhir2, Sarah Mackenzie3, Graham Thompson3
1Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, England; 2Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, England; 3Moor-
fields at St. George’s Hospital, Duke Elder Eye Centre, Tooting, London, England.
Email: sarubanp1@gmail.com
Received September 26th, 2011; revised October 23rd, 2011; accepted November 3rd, 2011.
ABSTRACT
Fraser syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with a reported incidence of 0.043 per 10,0 00 live
born infants and 1.1 in 10,000 stillbirths [1]. The condition is cha racterised by cryptophtha lmos, cutaneous syndactyly,
laryngeal and genitourinary malformations, craniofacial dysmorphism, orofacial clefting, musculoskeletal anomalies
and mental retardation. The diagnosis can be made on prenatal scans, post natal clinical examination or on autopsy
findings. We present a case of Fraser syndrome and review of the ocular manifestations of this co ndition.
Keywords: Cryptophthalmos, Fraser Sy n dr o me
1. Case History
A one day old male infant was referred to the ophthal-
mology department for assessment of a fused right upper
and lower eyelid. He was the first child born to noncon-
sanguineous parents of south East Asian origin. He had a
birth weight of 2.8 Kg and was born via vaginal ventouse
delivery at 39 + 2 weeks. Antenatal scans at 20 weeks
had revealed unilateral right renal agenesis (see Figure
1(a)). An apparently normal left kidney was seen at this
stage (see Figure 1(b)). No other abnormalities were
noted on antenatal scanning.
Clinical examination revealed a normal anterior and
posterior segment of the left eye. Right complete cryp-
tophthalmos was noted with a palpable eyeball beneath
(see Figure 1(c)). Systemic examination findings were
an umbilical hernia, widely spaced fontanelle, bulbous
nose and clinodactyly of the right fourth and fifth toes.
The genitalia were normal, and no hypertelorism or oro-
facial clefting were noted. Further ultrasound scans and
biochemical investigations showed the left kidney to be
cystic, dyplastic and poorly functioning.
An MRI orbits and brain confirmed right cryptoph-
thalmos (see Figure 1(d)).
A diagnosis of Fraser syndrome was made based on
the clinical findings.
2. Discussion
The earliest reports of what is now known as cryptoph-
thalmos (hidden eye) date back to the first century A.D.
Pliny the Elder described the Lepidus family in which
three children were born with a membrane over the eye,
typical of this rare anomaly.
The term cryptophthalmos was introduced by Ze-
hender [2] et al. in 1872 who described a child whose
eyes were covered by continuous sheets of skin from
forehead to cheek, associated with additional malforma-
tions including hypertelorism, syndactyly, abnormal
genitalia, umbilical hernia , anal stenosis and hoarse voice.
George Fraser [3] in 1962 was the first to group these
features together under the term “cryptophthalmos syn-
drome”. In fact, cryptophthalmos is not always a feature
of this syndrome, and thus, the eponym Fraser syndrome
is preferable for the condition.
Fraser syndrome is a multiple malformation syndrome
with a probable autosomal recessive inheritance. It may
be caused by mutations in two genes FRAS1 [4] (chro-
mosome 4) and FREM2 [4]. The FRAS1 extracellular
matrix protein regulates epidermal-basement membrane
adhesion and organogenesis during development. The
FREM2 gene (chromosome 13) encodes the FRAS1-
related extracellular matrix protein 2.
Thomas et al. in 1986 were the first to publish diag-
nostic criteria (see Table 1) for Fraser syndrome. The
criteria were based upon a study of 124 cases. Two major
criteria and one minor criterion or one major and at least
four minor criteria were required for the diagnosis of
Fraser Syndrome: Case Report with Review of Literature
2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
#Written consent from the patient’ s mother has been obtaine d and she is happy to be contacted on ferhatuddin@hot mail.com
Figure 1. (a) Absent right kidney; (b) Apparently normal left kidney on antenatal ultrasound scan; (c) Clinical photograph
showing right eye complete cryptophthalmos; (d) T2 weighted axial MRI brain and orbits showing absence of right eye crys-
talline lens with cystic appearance to right eye anterior chamber. Extradural haematoma following ventouse delivery is also
present.
Table 1. Diagnostic criteria for Fraser syndrome: two ma-
jor criteria and one minor criterion or one major and at
least four minor criteria were required for the diagnosis of
Fraser syndrome. Asterisks mark the malformations pre-
sent in our case.
Cryptophthalmos *
Syndactyly
Abnormal genitali a
Major
Criteria
Sib with Fraser syndrome
Congenital malformation of nose *
Congenital malformation of ears
Congenital malformation of larynx
Cleft lip +/– palate
Skeletal defects *
Umbilical hernia *
Renal agenesis *
Minor
Criteria
Mental retardation
Fraser syndrome [5].
The patient we described fulfils the criteria for a diag-
nosis of Fraser syndrome. These criteria helped differen-
tiate Fraser syndrome from isolated cryptophthalmos.
Feldman et al. reported the first prenatal detection of
Fraser syndrome in 1985. Their diagnosis was based on
microphthalmia and hydrocephalus at 18 weeks of gesta-
tion, with a previous ly affected sibling [6].
Slavotinek [7] et al.’s work in 2002 aimed to validate
the published diagnostic criteria and delineate the phe-
notype associated with this syndrome. Based on their
review of 117 cases, cryptophthalmos was present in
88% of cases (unilateral in 27.4%, bilateral in 47.9%).
This is consistent with previous reports, Thomas et al. [5]
reported 85% and Gattuso et al. [8] 93% (unilateral 25%,
bilateral 57%).
Numerous ocular manifestations of Fraser syndrome
have been reported. The findings from the Slavotinek
review are summarised in Table 2.
Francois’ [9] review of 43 cryptophthalmos cases lead
to this ophthalmic sign being divided into 3 groups.
Complete (typical) cryptophthalmos is usually bilateral
structure with a sheet of skin running from forehead to-
and is characterised by replacement of normal eye lid
Table 2. Other ocular complications in Fraser syndr ome .
Tongue of hair extending from scalp to lateral eye brow 34.20%
Absent eye lashes 29.10%
Coloboma of eyelid 17.90%
Groove in frontal bone/fur row to forehead/temporal depression8.50%
Microphthalmia 21.40%
Anophthalmia 6%
Corneal opacification/ corneal clouding/sclerocornea 10.30%
Microcornea /absence of the cornea/corneal epithelial defect 2.60%
Abnormal anteri or chamber/absence of the anterior str uctu res 5.10%
Hypoplasia of the optic nerve/atrophy of optic nerve 5.10%
Symblepharon /oculop a lp e b ral synechiae 14.50%
Copyright © 2011 SciRes. OJOph
Fraser Syndrome: Case Report with Review of Literature 3
cheek. There can be absence or poor development of the
eyebrows, eyelashes, gland structures and conjunctival
sac. The skin is adherent to the underlying cornea. Mi-
crophthalmia, symblepharon and abnormalities of the
anterior chamber are common.
Incomplete (atypical) cryptophthalmos refers to rudi-
mentary lid structures that are present with small con-
junctival sacs placed laterally, Small palpebral fissures,
micophthalmia and symblepharon [10].
Abortive cryptophthalmos or congenital symblepharon
described an upper lid without a well defined margin that
is adherent to the cornea. Slavotinek also suggests sym-
plepharon is part of the ocular manifestations of Fraser
syndrome [7].
We suggest utmost vigilance when clinicians are en
countered with one fetal anomaly o n antenatal ultrasou nd.
Rare multisystem disorders like Fraser syndrome should
be considered, so adequate parental counselling can be
delivered.
3. Literature Search
A MEDLINE search covering the years 1950 to the pre-
sent was conducted using the following terms: Fraser
syndrome, cryptophthalmos syndrome, and cryptoph-
thalmos. Articles cited in the reference lists of other arti-
cles were also searched.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
REFERENCES
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doi:10.1007/s12098-008-0030-9
[2] W. Zehender, “Eine Missge burt mit Hautueberwachsenen
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