Siegler-Brewer-Carey syndrome is characterized by cataracts, otitis media, intestinal malabsorption, chronic respiratory infection, and failure to thrive. It has been recently described in two sibs born to consanguineous parents. The patients also developed recurrent pneumonia and progressive azotemia leading to end-stage renal disease. Both children died of overwhelming infection (sepsis, meningitis). An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was proposed.