Incidences of dystopia canthorum and some other signs in a family with Waardenburg syndrome type I

Incidences of dystopia canthorum and some other signs were studied in a family with Waardenburg syndrome type I. When “W” index was used as a diagnostic parameter, dystopia canthorum was expressed in 88% of the family members who exhibited one or more of the signs, whereas incidence of this trait was calculated to be 63% or less, when the other indices were employed. Incidences of the other signs ranged from 50% to 13%. These observations indicate that W index is the most sensitive indicator of dystopia canthorum, and that this characteristic is most frequently expressed among the signs of Waardenburg syndrome type I.