[Familial thenar amyotrophy of carpal origin].

Thenar amyotrophy of carpal origin was found in two sisters aged respectively 49 and 59 years and in a 75 year-old woman and her 56 year-old daughter. The literature contains reports on about 15 cases of familial carpal tunnel syndrome. The clinical features were sensory symptoms in most patients but there was also cases with amyotrophy. The coexistence in a same family of several cases of carpal tunnel syndrome is not by itself, evidence of a genetic factor.