WS
Meaning of WS: WS is an inherited disorder that produces signs of accelerated aging beginning in early adulthood, arising from a gene mutation affecting DNA repair.
Definition of WS
WS, or Werner syndrome, is an inherited disorder marked by features resembling accelerated aging that typically become apparent beginning in early adulthood. Affected individuals may be shorter than average and can develop hair loss and graying, hardening of the arteries, thinning bones, and thinning, hardened skin earlier than would ordinarily be expected.
People with WS also face an increased risk of certain health conditions associated with aging, including diabetes and a higher than average risk of certain cancers, particularly osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, along with cataracts affecting the eyes.
WS is caused by a mutation in a gene that produces a protein involved in DNA replication and repair, and it is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning a person must inherit an altered copy of the gene from each parent to be affected. WS is also called adult progeria, reflecting its resemblance to premature aging, though it is a genetically distinct condition.
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Used in a sentence
Genetic testing was performed after the patient's clinical features raised suspicion for WS.
Good to know
WS shares clinical features with other premature aging syndromes, though its specific genetic cause and pattern of inheritance distinguish it from these other, unrelated conditions.