title: Nance–Horan syndrome
text: # Nance–Horan syndrome
  
  Nance–Horan syndrome is a rare X-linked dominant syndrome characterized by congenital cataracts leading to profound vision loss, characteristic dysmorphic features, and dental anomalies. Microcornea, microphthalmia, and mild or moderate intellectual disability may accompany these features. Heterozygous females often manifest similarly but with less severe features than affected males.
  
  ## Presentation
  
  Dental features:
  
  * small teeth in males
  * pointed (screwdriver shaped or conical) incisors (sometimes called Hutchinson teeth)
  * incisors with an irregular incisal edge
  * canines: enlarged and globular; may be dome or bud shaped with trilobed edge
  * premolars and molars: small, round and globular; may have supernumary lobes (mulberry or lotus flower shape)
  * widely separated teeth (diastemma)
  * hypoplastic enamel
  * dental agenesis
  * presence of mesiodents (median incisor behind normal upper incisors)
  * pulp chamber anomalies
  
  Facial features:
  
  * anteverted pinnae
  * long face
  * prominent nasal bridge and nose
  * prognathism occasionally
  
  Ophthalmic features:
  
  * bilateral congenital nuclear opacities (100%)
  * severe amblyopia
  * nystagmus (93%)
  * strabismus (43%)
  * microcornea (96%)
  * congenital glaucoma
  * scleral staphylomas
  * retinal cystoid degeneration
  * microphthalmia
  
  These lead to severe visual impairment in affected males.
  
  Other:
  
  * The fourth metacarpal may be shortened
  
  30% of patients also have some degree of intellectual impairment: of these 80% are mildly to moderately affected: the other 20% may have developmental delays and behavior problems.
  
  Carrier females display milder variable symptoms of disease. Ocular signs are present in 90% of heterozygous females. These are typically lens opacities often involving the posterior Y sutures. More rarely dental anomalies and the characteristic facial features may also occur.
  
  ## Genetics
  
  This syndrome is caused by mutations in the Nance Horan gene (NHS) which is located on the short arm of the X chromosome (Xp22.13).
  
  ## Management
  
  There is no known cure for this syndrome. Patients usually need ophthalmic surgery and may also need dental surgery. Genetic counseling and screening of the mother's relatives is recommended.
  
  ## History
  
  This syndrome was first described by Margaret B. Horan and Walter Elmore Nance in 1974.
  
  