A Case of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Surgical Treatment for Hand Contracture Using Abdominal Skin Flap

The patient was a 15-year-old male. Since birth, he has suffered from recurrent blistering, especially on the extremities. Histology and electron microscopic findings of the cutaneous lesions were compatible with those of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Contracture and mobility limitation of the hands had gradually deteriorated. Prior to the admission to our clinic, both hands' contracture had been surgically treated 4 times in another hospital; however, after treatment with skin grafting, hand contracture recurred each time within one year. This time, surgical treatment was carried out for his left hand contracture using an abdominal skin flap under local anesthesia. In comparison with the free skin graft, the abdominal skin flap improved hand contracture for a longer time. Abdominal skin flap is recommended as a method for the treatment of hand contracture of patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.     

A Case of Non-Hallopeau-Siemens Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a rare group of heritable mechanobullous disorders that are characterized by blistering and scarring of the skin and mucosae and these lesions are induced by minor trauma, DEB is also associated with nail dystrophy. DEB can be inherited either in an autosomal recessive or dominant fashion. Regardless of the mode of inheritance, DEB is caused by defects of the ultrastructural entity known as the anchoring fibril, which results in separation of the sublamina densa. Recessive DEB (RDEB) is classified into Hallopeau-Siemens and non-Hallopeau-Siemens. We herein report on a case of non-Hallopeau-Siemens RDEB and there was no family history of this malady, and we present the clinical, histological and electron microscopy findings.     

痒疹样营养不良型大疱性表皮松解症误诊1例

患者女,46岁。反复双下肢结节、水疱13年,加重伴泛发全身2年。先后在各地多家医院进行了4次组织病理检查,诊断为"痒疹、扁平苔藓"等。躯干背部、肘关节、双下肢胫前对称性分布紫红色丘疹、斑块,部分斑块上可见水疱,Nikolsky征阴性,局部见散在抓痕、结痂。皮肤病理示表皮下裂隙形成,直接免疫荧光结果IgG,IgA,IgM,C1q,C3a均阴性。确诊为痒疹样营养不良型大疱性表皮松解症。     

Pretibial dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a recessively inherited COL7A1 splice site mutation affecting procollagen VII processing

Pretibial epidermolysis bullosa (PEB) is a rare form of localized epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (EBD), a heterogeneous group of inherited, blistering diseases characterized by scarring, loss of dermal-epidermal adhesion and altered anchoring fibrils (AF). Mutations in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1) underlie EBD and in a dominant PEB family a glycine substitution mutation has been identified. We report a 33-year-old man affected by PEB showing abnormal AF and reduced immunostaining for type VII collagen. Mutation search in the COL7A1 gene revealed a 14 bp deletion in the 115 exon-intron boundary (33563del14), which resulted in the in-frame skipping of exon 115 with elimination of 29 amino acids from the pro-alpha1(VII) polypeptide chain. As a consequence, procollagen VII failed to be processed to mature collagen VII and accumulated at the dermal-epidermal junction, as revealed by immunofluorescence staining using a NC-2 domain-specific antibody. The proband's father was a clinically unaffected heterozygous carrier of mutation 33563del14, whereas the maternal pathogenetic mutation has still not been identified. This represents the first report of a recessive deletion mutation in PEB and extends the range of EBD phenotypes associated with mutation 33563del14.     

1例DEB的基因突变研究

目的检测1例营养不良型大疱性表皮松解症(DEB)家系的基因突变位点。方法对1例DEB患者及其家属成员采用聚合酶链反应及DNA直接测序方法进行COL7A1基因突变检测。结果患者存在COL7A1上第6240位鸟嘌呤G被腺嘌呤A代替(G→A),使得2043位的甘氨酸被精氨酸替代(G2043R),其父母、妹妹及健康人未见此突变。结论COL7A1基因的G2043R突变可能是引起本例临床表现的原因,且是一个denovo突变。     

Quality of Life and Economic Burden in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

BackgroundPatients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) exhibit blisters and erosions since birth, causing pain, pruritus and various complications. RDEB affects quality of life (QoL) in physical, emotional and social aspects. Furthermore, interminable dressing changes and supportive therapies impose a significant economic burden on the patient''s family.ObjectiveWe assessed the QoL and economic burden in patients with RDEB.MethodsSixteen patients with RDEB were surveyed to assess the QoL and economic burden. Patients answered questionnaires consisting of a visual analogue scale (VAS) on pain and pruritus, Skindex-29, Quality of Life in EB questionnaire (QOLEB), and the economic burden due to EB.ResultsThirteen patients with RDEB completed the questionnaire. Female patients presented higher VAS, QOLEB and total Skindex-29 scores than male patients. Patients with RDEB showed severe levels of pruritus, which was more intolerable than pain. Mean VAS score on pain in RDEB was higher than in oral lichen planus and post-herpetic neuralgia. VAS score on pruritus was similar to those in chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and prurigo nodularis. Compared with other dermatologic conditions, patients with RDEB were profoundly affected in all three scales of skindex-29. Mean "medical cost" in a month was $257.54 (USD) (±169.39) and mean "dressing cost" was $358.41 (USD) (±312.55), which was negatively related to patient age.ConclusionRDEB had a profound impact on QoL and economic burden. Compared with other dermatologic diseases, RDEB showed severe symptoms and QoL was seriously impaired. Most patients sustained economic burdens, especially on preparing dressing materials. Younger patients experienced more economic burdens.     

显性营养不良型大疱性表皮松解症家系临床表现与诊断分析

目的　研究显性营养不良型大疱性表皮松解症 (DDEB)家系的临床、遗传特点及其基底膜带 (BMZ)结构缺陷 ,并探讨DDEB亚型的发生机制。方法　采用间接免疫荧光 (IIF)和电镜研究 3位DDEB先证者皮损 ,并对其家系进行实地调查。结果　①符合常染色体显性遗传 ;②各家系平均发病年龄差异较大 ;③同一家系中有不同的DDEB亚型 ;④IIF用鼠抗人单克隆抗体LH7∶2检测Ⅶ型胶原 ,家系 1先证者BMZ处荧光较强 ,与正常对照无明显差异 ,家系 2、3先证者荧光明显弱于对照 ;⑤透射电镜示裂隙位于BMZ致密板下 ,锚原纤维数量减少、排列紊乱。结论　同一DDEB家系中 ,不同患者的表现度不同可能导致不同的DDEB亚型 ,IIF和电镜检测患者皮损有助于诊断。     

Clinical Criteria for Differentiating between Recessive and Dominant Forms of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa,Elaborated from an Analysis of 119 Cases

We attempted to establish clinical criteria which differentiated between recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) and dominant DEB (DDEB), since these two groups show prominent differences in prognosis, genetic recurrence risk and response to some types of treatment. The total of 119 cases examined consisted of our own 9 cases (2 of RDEB and 7 of DDEB) and 110 cases (26 of RDEB and 84 of DDEB) collected from the medical literature. They were analyzed by calculating the sensitivity and specificity of ten clinical features. We concluded that, syndactyly, presence of complications, dental lesions, remission-less course, and oral lesions are strongly indicative of RDEB (more than 70% specific). Intractable skin ulcer is suggestive of RDEB (more than 55% specific). Nail lesions, scar and atrophy, milia and pigmentation are not helpful in the differentiation because of their commonality. The proposed criteria are simple, reliable, and practical, providing us with a useful tool for differentiation of RDEB and DDEB in daily practice.     

Identification of the glycine-to-arginine substitution G2043R in type VII collagen in a family with dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa from Hungary

Abstract Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) represents a group of genodermatoses characterized by fragility and easy blistering of the skin. In the dystrophic forms of EB (DEB), blisters occur below the basement membrane, at the level of the anchoring fibrils. In the dominantly inherited forms (DDEB), the predominant type of mutation detected thus far is the substitution of a glycine residue which occurs within the collagenous domain of the molecule characterized by the repeating Gly-X-Y amino acid sequence. In this study, we searched for mutations in DDEB in a family from Hungary, by PCR amplification of segments of COL7A1, followed by heteroduplex analysis. Examination of the PCR fragment corresponding to exon 73 revealed a heteroduplex in affected individuals from the family. Sequence analysis revealed a G-to-A transition at nucleotide 6127 in the triple-helical domain of COL7A1, which converted a glycine residue at amino acid position 2043 to an arginine. This report represents the second incidence of this mutation. G2043R. described first in a family with DDEB from Italy.     

High-dose Tocopherol Acetate Therapy in Epidermolysis Bullosa Siblings of the Cockayne-Touraine Type

We have employed a successful therapy for epidermolysis bullosa with high-dose oral tocopherol acetate. Two siblings with dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa of the Cockayne-Touraine type were reported. Both siblings suffered from tense blisters and erosions healing with scars and transient milia on the extremities. Electron microscopic study of the blisters revealed a cleavage beneath the lamina densa in both siblings. High-dose oral tocopherol acetate therapy was administered to them with satisfactory clinical reduction of the blister formation.     

抗P_(200)血清对隐性遗传性营养不良性大疱性表皮松解症皮肤的免疫荧光研究

目的 确定P_(200)蛋白质抗原的性质。方法 收集了10例抗P_(200)类天疱疮血清,对6例隐性遗传性营养不良性大疱性表皮松解症(RDEB)皮肤切片进行了间接免疫荧光研究。结果 发现10例抗P_(200)类天疱疮血清均与5例RDEB皮肤基底膜带(BMZ)反应,而获得性大疱表皮松解症(EBA)血清对这些皮肤为阴性。另外,在1例RDEB,EBA血清既与BMZ反应又与Ⅶ型胶原沉积部位的胞浆反应,而抗P_(200)类天疱疮血清无此反应。结论 结果提示200 kDa抗原不是Ⅶ型胶原成份,而是一种特异的自身抗原。