A genetic cause for neonatal encephalopathy: incontinentia pigmenti with NEMO mutation

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is not generally recognized as a cause of neonatal encephalopathy. A full-term infant developed a rash and encephalopathy with lesions in the basal ganglia and periventricular white matter 3 days after a normal delivery. Typical skin changes of IP were confirmed by histology and mutation analysis of the NFkappaB essential modulator (NEMO) gene. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of brain injury appears to be increased apoptosis after inflammation and this condition should be included in differential diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy if skin lesions are present.