Werner's syndrome: autopsy report of one case, with a review of pathologic findings reported in the literature.

The autopsy findings in a 29-year-old male with Werner's syndrome are presented, with a review of similar data on 17 autopsy cases reported in the literature. The pathologic findings in this new case were scleroderma-like skin atrophy, arteriosclerosis, and atrophy of the endocrine glands (including the genital organs). In the reported cases of Werner's syndrome, as in the present example, the authors were unable to identify any responsible organ or system. However, they suggest that connective tissue, widely distributed throughout the entire body, may play an important role. The possible abnormal metabolism of connective tissue in Werner's syndrome deserves further study.