Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type III (HTLV-III) Embryopathy

Twenty infants and children with positive serologic tests for the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) were noted to have similar features including growth failure (75%), microcephaly (70%), and craniofacial abnormalities consisting of ocular hypertelorism (50%); prominent box-like appearance of the forehead (75%); flat nasal bridge (70%); mild upward or downward obliquity of the eyes (65%); long palpebral fissures with blue sclerae (60%); short nose with flattened columella and well-formed, triangular philtrum (65%); and patulous lips (60%). These features constitute a new and distinct dysmorphic syndrome, the HTLV-III embryopathy.