Progeria, or Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, is a rare genetic disease, 
characterized by several clinical features that develop in childhood, in 
particular, an accelerated aging aspect. Its incidence is 1-4 per 8 million 
newborns. Children with progeria syndrome usually appear normal at birth and in 
early infancy. Profound failure to thrive occurs during the 1st year. 
Characteristic facies, partial alopecia progressing to total alopecia, loss of 
subcutaneous fat, stiffness of joints, bone changes, and abnormal tightness of 
the skin over the abdomen and upper thighs usually become apparent during the 
2nd to 3rd years. Motor and mental development is normal. Patients develop 
severe atherosclerosis. Death occurs as a result of complications of cardiac or 
cerebrovascular disease (heart attack or stroke) generally between ages 6 and 20 
years. The diagnosis of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is based on 
recognition of common clinical features and the detection of the recurrent 
p.Gly608Gly mutation in exon 11 of the LMNA gene, which is present in almost all 
individuals with HGPS. We present here 3 patients aged 5, 11, and 12 years 
referred to genetic consultation for dysmorphic facies and failure to thrive. 
After careful clinical examination and paraclinical assessment, the diagnosis of 
progeria syndrome was raised. We performed molecular analysis for the 3 patients 
by searching for the recurrent mutation c.1824C>T (p.Gly608Gly) of the LMNA 
gene, which was found only in 1 patient. We discuss the geneticist's role in the 
diagnosis of rare dysmorphic syndromes and their genetic counseling. We also 
analyze the clinical spectrum of HGPS by comparing the 3 patients.