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To the Editor.—
I have been concerned over the recent publicity given to CRST syndrome in which it is intimated that this is a new syndrome not previously recognized. This is not so. In the past it has been known as the Thibierge-Weissenbach syndrome. All the manifestations noted in CRST were originally described by Georges Thibierge and R. J. Weissenbach in an article entitled "Concretion Calcaires Sous-Cutanees Et Sclerodermie" (Ann Derm Syph42:129-155, 1911). The basic problem, of course, was disconcerting 50 years ago in 1911 and is still disconcerting. For that reason I append the following somewhat facetiously.
DISCONCERTING:
D—Dermis, dentalI—Intestinal, infarctionS—SclerosisC—Calcinosis, colonO—Odontic (widening periodontal membrane)N—NailC—Connective tissueE—EsophagusR—Raynaud's, renal, regurgitationT—TelangiectasiaI—Immobility, isidiousN—Neologism, necrosisG—Ground substance