Werner's syndrome: analysis of 15 cases with a review of the Japanese literature.

Fifteen patients with Werner's syndrome were studied--12 males and 3 females, whose ages ranged from 17 to 59 years. Most of the previously reported clinical characteristics were confirmed, and an additional finding was the frequent occurrence of flat feet and hyperreflexia of the patellar and Achilles tendons. Also noted were an excessive urinary excretion of hyaluronic acid and a decrease in the T-cell subpopulation. The significance of these findings is discussed.