Ultrastructural aspects of the skin in lipoid proteinosis (Urbach-Wiethe disease)

Abstract Lipoid proteinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease, characterized by hyaline deposits of PAS-positive material in tissues due to mutations in the ECM1 gene. This study evaluated the ultrastructure of the skin of a 6-year-old child affected by this condition. The light microscopy identified PAS-positive hyaline deposits, which were more intense in the papillary dermis. Scanning electron microscopy of the dermis showed a compact papillary dermis and fibrillar deposits in the middle dermis. Transmission electron microscopy clearly showed the deposition of fibrillar material in the dermis, forming clusters adherent to elastic fibers, between the collagen bundles and the collagen fibers, and also filling up the cytoplasm of dermal fibroblasts.

Clinical investigation and mutation analysis of ECM1 gene in a family with lipoid proteinosis / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To report a family with lipoid proteinosis (LP) from Shandong province and to analyze mutations in the extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) gene in this family.Methods Eight members in a threegeneration family with LP were clinically investigated,and two patients were identified to suffer from LP,including the proband (Ⅲ 1) and her mother (Ⅱ 2).Both of the patients presented with papules on the palpebral margin,short and thick lingual frenum,and hoarseness.Indirect laryngoscopy showed infiltrating and thickening of the vocal cord.Pathological examination of lesions on the palpebral margin and laryngeal mucosa revealed deposits of hyaline-like material in the dermis,which was strongly positive for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and resistant to diastase digestion.The pathological diagnosis was LP.Blood samples were collected from all the family members and 100 ethnically matched,unrelated and unaffected Chinese human controls followed by DNA extraction.PCR and sequencing were performed to detect the ECM1 gene,and nested PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis to analyze mutations in the coding region of the ECM1 gene.Results Both of the two patients were compound heterozygotes.Three missense mutations,incluing p.P169T,p.A44T and p.R392W,were found in the ECM1 gene of the affected mother,with p.P169T in one allele and p.A44T as well as p.R392W in the other.The girl patient inheried the missence mutation p.P169T from her mother and a synonymous mutation c.879G ＞ A from her father (Ⅱ 1).Nested PCR showed that the c.978G ＞ A mutation generated a splice-acceptor site AG,which leaded to a splicing defect.Conclusion A novel synonymous splice-acceptor site mutation c.879G ＞ A in the ECM1 gene is identified in the family with LP.

Você conhece esta síndrome? / Do you know this Syndrome

A síndrome de Urbach-Wiethe, também conhecida como lipoidoproteinose ou hialinose cutânea e mucosa (OMIM 247100), é rara genodermatose de herança autossômica recessiva, de patogênese desconhecida, que se caracteriza pela deposição de material hialino na pele, mucosa oral e órgãos internos. Alterações características incluem a rouquidão, pápulas e nódulos na face, especialmente na borda das pálpebras, cicatrizes varioliformes, espessamento difuso e aspecto amarelado da pele e lesões verrucosas em áreas de atrito.

Urbach-Wiethe disease, also named lipoproteinosis or hyalinosis cutis et mucosae (OMIM 247100), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of unknown pathogenesis with hyaline-like material deposition in the skin, oral mucosa and internal organs. Typical features include hoarseness, papules and nodules on the face, characteristically along the eyelid margins, pitted scars, diffuse thickening and yellow discoloration of the skin, and verrucous lesions in areas subjected to trauma.

Síndrome de Urbach-Wiethe: relato de caso / Urbach-Wiethe syndrome: a case report

Apresentação de um caso de síndrome de Urbach-Wiethe com manifestações típicas, inclusive oculares. Paciente do sexo feminino, 15 anos, com quadro de prurido ocular relacionado à presença de lesões papuliformes em margens palpebrais (blefarose moniliforme), em associação com outras alterações sistêmicas. O diagnóstico foi confirmado por meio de biópsia cutânea e foi instituído uso de lágrimas artificiais, com alívio parcial do sintoma. O objetivo do trabalho é relatar um caso com manifestações características da doença atendido no Setor de Oftalmologia da Faculdade de Medicina de Marília.

We present a case of Urbach-Wiethe syndrome with typical findings, including ocular lesions. A 15-year-old girl was referred to our department complaining of itchy eyelid lesions (moniliform blepharosis) associated with other systemic manifestations. Diagnosis was confirmed by performing skin biopsy. Artificial tears were prescribed, with partial relief of the symptom. The objective of the present study is to describe a typical case of Urbach-Wiethe syndrome attended at the Ophthalmologic Sector of the Medical School of Marília.