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Background: Tufted angioma (TA) is a rare benign vascular tumor that mostly appears during infancy or early childhood. Histologic tufts of capillaries infiltrating the whole dermis in a "cannonball" distribution pattern associated with dilated lymphatic vessels are characteristic of the disease and confirm the diagnosis. Few case series of TA have been published, and the morphologic structure and evolution of TA seem to vary., Observations: We describe the largest series to date of childhood TA, comprising 13 cases. All children developed lesions within the first year of life; 7 cases were congenital. We found a clear male predominance (9 of 13 children). Presentation was a nascent or florid tumor, usually a dusky red to violaceous plaque, that was indurated, firm, and sometimes associated with hyperhidrosis or hypertrichosis. Locations of the lesions included limbs, abdomen, and genitalia. Five children had spontaneous regression, 5 children had Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, and 1 child had a lesion that stabilized. Two children with painful TA had chronic coagulopathy without thrombocytopenia that was controlled by ticlopidine hydrochloride and aspirin., Conclusions: The following 3 clinical patterns could be distinguished: TA without complications, TA complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, and TA without thrombocytopenia but with chronic coagulopathy. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe the third pattern. Because of the aggressive nature of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, it is essential to obtain a complete blood cell count when evaluating a child with TA.

A number of COL7A1 mutations have now been reported in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients, and the analysis of phenotype-genotype correlations showed evidence for interfamilial and intrafamilial phenotypic variability, occurring for the same mutation. Collagenase and stromelysin activities have been found to be overexpressed in skin cultures of some recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients, and tissue destruction in the disease process might result from an imbalance of metalloproteinases (MMP) over tissueinhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP). So we suspected that the phenotypic variability for the same mutation could be linked to other genetic or environmental factors, as a particular balance between MMP and TIMP. Organ cultures were performed using explants from the skin of three patients from the same family with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa to reveal and quantify the expression of MMP-1 (collagenase 1), MMP-2 and MMP-9 (gelatinases A and B), MMP-3 (stromelysin 1), TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, and to compare the results with those obtained with two human control skins, with the same experimental conditions. Increased amounts of all metalloproteinases investigated were observed in the skin of the three recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa affected sibling brothers, both in lesioned and in apparently nonlesioned skin, compared with controls. The amounts of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 increased particularly in the skin of the more clinically affected patient. Furthermore for this patient we evidenced higher amounts of MMP-1 and also a lower TIMP-1 amount in his unlesioned and lesioned skin compared with the other two affected patients and with healthy control donors. So we can suspect that recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa phenotypic variability could be related to patients' collagenase activity heterogeneity, linked to imbalance between MMP-1 and TIMP-1.

Change of the clinical picture with aging is noted in some patients suffering from junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB), an inherited blistering disorder caused by extensive disadhesion of the epithelia. We have studied a patient born with severe JEB associated with absent expression of laminin 5. A remarkable reduction of the blistering tendency was observed with aging that correlated with a restored expression of immunoreactive laminin 5 molecules. Genetic analysis of the gene LAMB3 detected compound heterozygosity for the nonsense mutation R635X and a novel 2 bp deletion (1587delAG) resulting in a downstream premature termination codon. RT-PCR amplification of total RNA purified from skin biopsies demonstrated that the mutated beta3 mRNAs underwent rapid decay shortly after birth, and that illegitimate splicing of the mRNA carrying mutation 1587delAG generated a new internally shortened beta3 transcript with advancing age. Our genetic and biochemical data show that (i) the illegitimate splicing of the beta3 pre-mRNA results in synthesis and secretion of a laminin 5 heterotrimer with an internally deleted beta3 polypeptide, (ii) expression of the mutated beta3 polypeptide is up-regulated in the basal keratinocytes with high proliferative potential, (iii) absence of the N-terminal region of the beta3 rod domain II thought to stabilize the tertiary structure of the laminin 5 is not required for the assembly of the protein and (iv) the mutant laminin 5 retains its adhesive potential. Our results demonstrate that mRNA rescue may underlie the evolution of the clinical phenotype in inherited skin conditions.

Lichen striatus (LS) is an uncommon dermatosis that generally affects children. Sometimes biopsy is required to assess the diagnosis. It is usually mentioned that LS has no specific histopathological criteria. Recently Gianotti et al., in 50% of the examined cases, found clues to the diagnosis. We have evaluated 13 biopsies of children affected by LS, in order to evaluate histopathological criteria to allow a diagnosis. The features nearly constantly present (12/13) in each specimen were focally band-like lymphocytic infiltrate with variable exocytosis and necrotic keratinocytes within the epidermis surrounded by lymphocytes. Epidermis hyperplasia, sometimes psoriasiform, was also present. In addition, one of remarkable the features of LS was the alignment of the infiltrate along eccrine ducts and glands and/or follicles. In 3 cases the deep lymphocytic infiltration was particularly dense. These results confirm that helpful clues to histopathological diagnosis of LS exist.

We have characterized 21 mutations in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1) encoding the anchoring fibrils, 18 of which were not previously reported, in patients from 15 unrelated families with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). COL7A1 mutations in both alleles were identified by screening the 118 exons of COL7A1 and flanking intron regions. Fourteen mutations created premature termination codons (PTCs) and consisted of nonsense mutations, small insertions, deletions, and splice-site mutations. A further seven mutations predicted glycine or arginine substitutions in the collagenous domain of the molecule. Two mutations were found in more than one family reported in this study, and six of the seven missense mutations showed clustering within exons 72-74 next to the hinge region of the protein. Patients who were homozygous or compound heterozygotes for mutations leading to PTCs displayed both absence or drastic reduction of COL7A1 transcripts and undetectable type VII collagen protein in skin. In contrast, missense mutations were associated with clearly detectable COL7A1 transcripts and with normal or reduced expression of type VII collagen protein at the dermo/epidermal junction. Our results provide evidence for at least two distinct molecular mechanisms underlying defective anchoring fibril formation in RDEB: one involving PTCs leading to mRNA instability and absence of protein synthesis, the other implicating missense mutations resulting in the synthesis of type VII collagen polypeptide with decreased stability and/or altered function. Genotype-phenotype correlations suggested that the nature and location of these mutations are important determinants of the disease phenotype and showed evidence for interfamilial phenotypic variability.

Introduction: There are two hereditary forms of primary telangiectasia with a totally opposite prognosis. In Rendu-Osler disease, also called hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, there is a major risk of severe haemorrhage in adults. In benign hereditary telangiectasia there is no such risk., Case Report: We report two brothers who were diagnosed as having Rendu-Osler disease. Under standard electron microscopy, a biopsy of a telangiectasia taken from the right arm pit showed that the vessels of the superficial reticular derma were dilated with thick walls but no dehiscences as in Rendu-Osler disease., Discussion: This ultrastructure explains why there had been no haemorrhages in our two cases and favoured a diagnosis of hereditary benign telangiectasia.

Methylmalonic and propionic acidaemias are rare metabolic disorders with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. A number of aminoacidopathies may have cutaneous manifestations, but these are usually absent in methylmalonic and propionic acidaemia. We have studied 38 children with propionic and methylmalonic acidaemia in the last 10 years at the Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades. Thirteen had cutaneous manifestations: acute superficial scalded skin and superficial desquamation, bilateral and periorificial dermatitis, psoriasiform eruptions, and alopecia. The relative uniformity of these manifestations (scalded skin and desquamation after metabolic decompensation, chronic bilateral and periorificial dermatitis) suggests that methylmalonic and propionic acidaemias should be included in the category of aminoacidopathies with cutaneous manifestations. All these patients were suffering from severe forms of these diseases, with no residual enzyme activity, and they were all subjected to a very severe natural protein-restricted diet. These cutaneous manifestations may therefore either be part of a complex multideficiency syndrome, or be due to the enzyme deficiency itself.

The term OFD syndrome designates a group of heterogeneous clinical patterns of which seven different types have been described. Type I, or Papillon Léage syndrome, is the most common pattern and the only type in which skin lesions occur. Type I OFD is a sex-linked dominant disorder. Two cases of OFD Type I with cystic lesions of the face are reported herein. The second patient also had polycystic kidneys. This combination has already been reported previously and all children with OFD should be investigated for polycystic kidney disease.

The systemic long-term corticosteroid treatment administered to kidney graft recipients (KGR) within the framework of the required immunosuppressive therapy induces an atrophy of the skin, from the sixth month onwards. We studied the effect of topical all-trans retinoic acid (0.05%; Galderma Labs.) applied to the forearms of 27 KGR (14 men, 13 women) over a 6-month period. Twenty-four subjects completed the trial. The following results were obtained in the treated forearm versus the untreated forearm (excipient alone): clinically, an increase in skin thickness; by noninvasive techniques, an increase in skin thickness, skin elasticity, skin conductance, and TEWL, and a reduction in the size of the corneocytes. No change in stratum corneum lipid content was observed. A sex-related difference was noted in the response to treatment under our experimental conditions, the female patients responding better. A punch biopsy (4 mm) was performed on both forearms of four patients after the 6-month period. Histologic and ultrastructural examination revealed epidermal and dermal changes evoking increased cellular metabolism in the retinoic acid-treated forearms.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare non hereditary bullous disease. One case is described with a morphological, and immunocytochemical ultrastructural study. The plain ultrastructural morphology showed a dense amorphous deposit in the superficial dermis, under the basal lamina. Immunofluorescence showed IgG and C3 deposits. The ultrastructural study (direct immunoperoxidase technique using Fab) showed a dense labelling associating : dark dots spaced under the basal lamina and fogging less dense labelling in the clarified superficial dermis. Using the patient's antibodies an indirect reaction on normal human skin performed : the same dotted sub laminal labelling was found but with no dermal diffuse reaction product. The study shows the site and the aspect of the Ig deposit in EBA and indicates that the antibodies demonstrated in some patients are reactive with a constituent of the normal superficial dermis.

Kindler's syndrome occurred in a 13-year-old boy with parental consanguinity. The patient had acral congenital blistering and photosensitivity, both regressive, at 12 years of age, together with diffuse progressive poikiloderma, marked cutaneous atrophy, mild hyperkeratosis of the palms, gingival hypertrophy and fragility, and anal stenosis. The ultrastructural study of bullae induced by rubbing showed clefts in three levels of the dermoepidermal junction zone. A review of 14 cases in the literature consistent with Kindler's syndrome showed this to be a definite clinical entity among the other bullous hereditary poikilodermas. In two cases, ultrastructural studies showed intraepidermal, junctional, and dermal cleavage. This syndrome must be differentiated from congenital epidermolysis bullosa, Weary's syndrome, and the other bullous hereditary poikilodermas.