Inherited epidermolysis bullosa: update on the clinical and genetic aspects

Abstract Inherited epidermolysis bullosa is a group of genetic diseases characterized by skin fragility and blistering on the skin and mucous membranes in response to minimal trauma. Epidermolysis bullosa is clinically and genetically very heterogeneous, being classified into four main types according to the layer of skin in which blistering occurs: epidermolysis bullosa simplex (intraepidermal), junctional epidermolysis bullosa (within the lamina lucida of the basement membrane), dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (below the basement membrane), and Kindler epidermolysis bullosa (mixed skin cleavage pattern). Furthermore, epidermolysis bullosa is stratified into several subtypes, which consider the clinical characteristics, the distribution of the blisters, and the severity of cutaneous and extracutaneous signs. Pathogenic variants in at least 16 genes that encode proteins essential for the integrity and adhesion of skin layers have already been associated with different subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa. The marked heterogeneity of the disease, which includes phenotypes with a broad spectrum of severity and many causal genes, hinders its classification and diagnosis. For this reason, dermatologists and geneticists regularly review and update the classification criteria. This review aimed to update the state of the art on inherited epidermolysis bullosa, with a special focus on the associated clinical and genetic aspects, presenting data from the most recent reclassification consensus, published in 2020.

Bioingeniería de tejidos: cultivo de queratinocitos humanos en el tratamiento de la epidermólisis bullosa / Treatment of epidermolysis bullosa with allogeneic human cultured queratinocytes

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) or "crystal skin" is a group of inherited disorders that affect the protein that forms the anchor between dermis and epidermis, producing blister injuries. Case report: We report a four years old boy with junctional EB and lesions in 80 percent of the body lasting 48 months. His right lower limb was treated with allogeneic human cultured queratinocytes during five weeks. After the treatment period, a re-epithelization of 90 percent of the intervened limb was observed. Its diameter increased from 23 to 27 cm, the wound assessment scale score decreased from 30 to 13 and the visual analogue pain assessment score decreased from eight to two. Therefore allogeneic human cultured queratinocytes are a novel therapeutic alternative for EB.

Introducción: La epidermólisis Bullosa (EB) o "piel de cristal" es un grupo de trastornos hereditarios, el cual afecta las proteínas que forman la unión dermo-epidérmica de piel y mucosas, lo que lleva a la formación de lesiones ampollares. Objetivo: Comunicar la primera intervención con cultivos de queratinocitos humanos alogénicos (CQHA) en el tratamiento de la EB, en un centro de salud familiar de Chile el año 2013. Metodología: Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 4 años, quien presentaba lesiones en el 80 por ciento del cuerpo de 48 meses de evolución. Se realizó una intervención de la extremidad inferior derecha con el 90 por ciento comprometido con CQHA durante 5 sem con el fin de lograr la reepitelización y formación de piel indemne. Resultados: Posterior a las 5 sem del tratamiento se logró reepitelización del 90 por ciento de la extremidad intervenida, incremento del diámetro de la pierna de 23 a 27 cm., en la escala de valoración de heridas se reduce de 30 a 13 puntos y en la escala de valoración análoga del dolor de 8 a 2 puntos. Conclusión: Se presenta una alternativa terapéutica para pacientes con EB.

The lethal gene in a 6-year-old boy: A case report

This is a report of a case of a 6-year-old boy who came in due to generalized crusted erosions. His condition started at 2 days of age as appearance of tense vehicles which progress into bullae on normal or erythematous base after mild trauma on the extremities and later become generalized. The vesicles would become ersosions and crusts and heal with minimal residual scarring. As old lesions heal, new vesicles would appear. Nikolsky and Asboe-Hansen signs were negative. No extracutaneous or mucosal involvement was noted. Family history revealed that all of his five siblings had appearance of similar vesicobullous lesions few days after birth. Four of them died during the first six months of life. The older surviving sister, now age 10, showed gradual improvement of the condition as she grew older.Paternal and maternal family histories have no similar lesions. Skin punch biopsy revealed a subepidermal blistering disease. Direct and indirect immunofluoroscence were negative, consistent with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa. Treatment of this disorder remains elusive. Management is focused mainly in the prevention of trauma as well as supportive measures. Patient education and genetic counseling are also cornerstones of management as in any genetic disorder. Advances in prenatal testing and gene therapy provide hope for early diagnosis and intervention.

Manifestaciones orales de la epidermolisis bulosa en el niño / Oral manifestations in children with Epidermolysis Bullosa

La Epidermolisis Bulosa (EB) es un conjunto de enfermedades genéticas que afectan la zona de unión dermo-epidérmica y que presentan lesiones ampollares y erosiones en la piel y mucosas de todo el organismo. Los tejidos blandos y duros de la cavidad oral son afectados con diferente intensidad según la proteína alterada por la enfermedad. El compromiso máxilo-facial conlleva dificultades para la alimentación, higiene y tratamiento odontológico de los pacientes, es por esto que el pediatra, como cabeza de un equipo multidisciplinario que trata a los niños afectados, debe tener presente la importancia de derivar a sus pacientes al odontólogo para que se inicien las medidas preventivas y los tratamientos oportunos y así evitar mayores complicaciones en estos niños. Este trabajo pretende reforzar el conocimiento de las manifestaciones orales de la EB, para que la derivación de los pacientes al odontólogo sea precoz y prioritaria.

Proposta de protocolo de tratamento odontológico em pacientes com epidermólise bolhosa hereditária / Dental treatment protocol proposal in patients with hereditary bullous epidermolysis

A epiderólise Bolhosa (EB) está associada a diversas manifestações orais, as quais podem envolver tecidos moles e duros intra-orais. As características e a extensão do envolvimento oral variam consideravelmente entre os tipo da doença. Nas formas brandas, a mucosa oral pode apresentar bolhas ocasionalmente e não há acometimento dos dentes, enquanto nas formas mais debilitantes, toda a mucosa oral é gravemente afetada, podendo haver alterações dentárias. O tratamento odontológico deve considerar os diversos aspectos e as limitações da doença, permitindo que esses pacientes beneficiem-se com a manutenção de uma dentição natural e saudável.

Epidermólise bolhosa distrófica e juncional: aspectos gastrointestinais / Epidermolysis bullosa, dystrophic and junctional type: gastrointestinal aspects

Objetivo: avaliar os distúrbios gastrointestinais de crianças e adolescentes com epidermólise bolhosa do tipo distrófica e juncional. Métodos: foram analisados os sinais e sintomas gastrointestinais presentes no primeiro atendimento, assim como os resultados de exames, de todosos pacientes atendidos com a doença em uma unidade universitária de gastroenterologia pediátrica / Objective: to evaluate the gastrointestinal disturbances observed in patientss with epidermolysis bullosa, junctional and dystrophic type. Methods: the gastrointestinal complaints at the first consultation were analysis...

Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa (JEB) with Pyloric Atresia

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has three distinctive types, of which junctional EB has been known to be associated with pyloric atresia (PA) usaually. PA is a congenital disease of gastric outlet obstruction, known to occur at a rate of 1 per million live-births. It may occur independently or in combination with other congenital disorders such as EB. Dozens of cases of this combined disease have been reported since 1972 and autosomal recessive patterns have recently been revealed. This, junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia, has poor prognosis. Bullous, erupted cutaneous manifestations have recurrent, persistent characteristics and causes extracutaneous manifestations such as electrolyte imbalance, protein-loosing enteropathy, failure to thrive, and sepsis. In some cases, this syndrome may have obstructive uropathy and give it bad results also. For these reasons, physicians should be careful to avoid minor trauma on the skin and need to make meticulous decisions in operative correction about obstrutive gastrointestinal lesion or uropathy. We report a case of 3-day-old male baby, junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia.

Successful Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency, Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa and Lactic Acidosis Using Duplex Nested PCR: Delivery of Healthy Baby by Specific Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Ornithine Tran / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is reserved for couples with a risk of transmitting a serious and incurable disease, and hence avoids the undesirable therapeutic abortion. Herein, we report the result of PGD to carriers at risk of transmitting ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, junctional epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and lactic acidosis (LA) due to defect of pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha1 gene, respectively. METHODS: The ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval and ICSI procedure were undergone by conventional protocols. PGD for single gene disorders was carried out after biopsy of one or two blastomeres from the embryos on the third day. We performed the duplex nested PCR of the simultaneous amplification for the causative mutation loci as well as the SRY gene on Y chromosome in case of OTC deficiency and LA. Two different mutation loci of ITGB4 gene in EB case were amplified by the same protocol. The PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or direct DNA sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 26 embryos were analyzed by duplex nested PCR. One or two blastomeres were biopsied, and successful diagnosis rate of PGD with PCR was 92.3% (24/26). There was no contamination in all PCR samples of negative controls (n=67). Five embryos (19.2%) were diagnosed as normal embryos, which were transferred to the mothers' uterus in each cases. In OTC deficiency case, singleton pregnancy was established. At 17 weeks of gestation, genetic normality of OTC gene in fetus was confirmed by amniocentesis. A healthy baby was successfully delivered at 36 weeks of gestation in OTC deficiency case. Unfortunately, pregnancies were not achievement in cases of EB and LA. CONCLUSION: This is the first report in Korea that healthy baby was born after specific PGD for OTC deficiency. Our results demonstrate that duplex nested PCR for single cell is an efficient method in identifying the gender and single gene mutation or two different mutation loci, simultaneously. This PGD procedure could provide normal healthy baby to the couple with a high risk of transmitting genetic diseases.

Inherited epidermolysis bullosa; an immunohistochemical study

In this study, 25 cases of epidermolysis bullosa and 10 age matched controls were screened for the abnormalities in keratin 5, 14 and collagen VII using immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies. In epidermolysis bullosa simplex [EBS] cases, cytokeratin 14 staining was significantly less than normal controls in the basal cells, while the suprabasal cells [the roof of the blister] did not differ significantly from the suprabasal cells of the controls. On the other hand, cytokeratin 5 revealed a marked positive staining of the upper and lower surfaces of the blister, but the difference was statistically significant only when the upper surface of the blister was compared with the suprabasal cells of the controls. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa represents a group of diseases for which the cardinal feature is blistering in response to mechanical trauma. In most cases, the inheritance pattern can be deduced and the transmission of the mutation through the family follows the principles of Mendelian inheritance

A Case of Pyloric Atresia Associated with Epidermolysis Bullosa

We have experienced a case of congenital pyloric atresia associated with epidermolysis bullosa in a premature newborn who was born at the gestation period of 33+3 week. She showed a few blisters on left ankle at birth and the easy formation of blisters involving the area of trauma or friction with depigmentation after healing. The histologic finding of the lesion showed junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Abdominal roentgenographic finding on day 2 showed single bubble sign. That suggested pyloric atresia. It was confirmed by upper gasrtointestinal series radiography and corrected by surgery, gastrojejunostomy on day 16. She discharged on day 50. The severity of the formation of blisters decreased but the poor weight agin became the main problem. The brief review of literatures was made.

Epidermolysis bullosa letalis (Herlitz disease): a case report.

A case of junctional epidermolysis bullosa was reported. A four-month-old boy was presented with generalised blisters after minor trauma since birth. There was no family history of blistering diseases or consanguinity. Skin examination revealed blisters primarily on the upper and lower extremities. Erosions were also noted on the face, abdomen and buttocks. The lesions healed without milia or scarring formation. Anonychia of all fingers and toe nails were noted. Skin biopsy from the blisters showed subepidermal bulla with a few inflammatory cells. Electron microscopic examination revealed cleavage plane at the lamina lucida and the absence of hemidesmosomes. These findings supported a diagnosis of junctional epidermolysis bullosa. The patient was treated with topical and systemic antibiotics. However, the blisters gradually increased. He died of uncontrolled sepsis and diarrhea.

Alteraciones de la zona de membrana basal en enfermedades cutáneas / Abnormalities of the basement membrane zone in cutaneous diseases

Diversas enfermedades cutáneas se caracterizan por alteraciones localizadas preferentemente en la zona de membrana basal. Estas dermatosis se han hereditarias y adquiridas. Se pueden encontrar cambios ultraestructurales en la membrana basal, muchos de los cuales serían causados por fenómenos autoinmunes. Múltiples investigaciones han permitido aclarar la morfogénesis de las lesiones clínicamente visibles que afectan esta zona en particular. En la presente revisión se realiza una puesta al día de la última información de la literatura sobre estas interesantes enfermedades

A Case of Epidermolysis Bullosa Letalis

No abstract available.