Abstracts

CASE REPORT

^IAssistant Professor of the Dermatological Service of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)-- Uberlândia (MG), Brazil

^IIAssociate Professor II of the Dermatological Service of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) - Uberlândia (MG), Brazil

^IIITitular of the Service of Pathologic Anatomy of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)-- Uberlândia (MG), Brazil. (In memorian)

^IVResident of the Dermatological Service of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) - Uberlândia (MG), Brazil

^VMedical doctor, internship in Dermatology from the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) - Uberlândia (MG), Brazil

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ABSTRACT

Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans is a rare disease, with genetic transmission either X-linked or sporadic, characterized by follicular hyperkeratosis and cicatricial alopecia. The disease usually begins in early childhood exacerbating throughout adolescence. The therapies are somewhat effective, with frustrating treatment when there are changes which are predominantly cicatricial. It is reported a case of child with intense cicatricial alopecia, with precocious changes (already present at birth) that rapidly evolved to diffuse cicatricial alopecia on the scalp, which has limited the treatment, with disappointing results.

Keywords: Hair follicle; Keratosis; Scalp dermatoses; Skin and connective tissue diseases

INTRODUCTION

Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans is a rare disease characterized by follicular hyperkeratosis and cicatricial alopecia. There are many sporadic cases but the most intensive manifestations are found in men suggesting a pattern of inheritance linked to X.^1,2,3,4

Manisfestations of the disease start in childhood, frequently on the face, but it might be circumscribed to the face and extremities or generalized. Cicatricial alopecia on the scalp and supercilium is the marking characterisitc of the disease. Some cases show association with corneal opacity, photophobia and palm-plantar hyperkeratosis that usually start in adolescence ^1,2 Up to this moment a completely effective therapy is not known. ^1,2,4,5

There were not found in the medical literature studied Brazilian works related to this theme. It is reported here the case of a 5-year-old girl presenting intense and precocious follicular atrophy.

CASE REPORT

Female child, aged five, white, born from consanguineous parents (5th grade cousins). Reported absence of hairs at birth. As she grew fine, brittle and sparse hair appeared. It was not reported any other similar case in the family. No complaints of photophobia or case history of atopy. Dermatological exam: hyperkeratotic papules associated with hipotrichosis, with fine, short, opaque and brittle hair, affecting the scalp, eyelashes and superciliums; follicular keratotic papules on the trunk and limbs. (^{Pictures 1}, ² and ³). Normal neuropsychomotor development and absence of ocular changes. Histopathologic examination of the scalp: lamellar hyperkeratosis in the follicular ostium, discreet superficial perivascular mononuclear infiltration and linear scar, vertical, corresponding to the pathway of a pilose follicle previously destroyed (^{Pictures 4} and ⁵). Haemogram, serum determination of phosphorus, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, TSH and cholecalciferol normal, FAN negative. Treated with emollients and topical keratolytics without significant improvement.

DISCUSSION

Atrophic pillar keratosis comprehends three conditions that differ from each other according to the location of the lesions and level of inflammation and atrophy .They are : pillar keratosis face atrophying, atrophodermia vermiculata and keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans, possibly belonging to the same pathologic process, characterized by follicular hyperkeratosis with inflammation and subsequent atrophy.^1,4 Recently other authors have included a fourth type named folliculitis spinulosa decalvans, previously considered a persistent inflammatory variation of keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans ⁶

The term keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans was criated by Siemens,⁷ in 1926, when he described some individuals from a Bavarian family that presented follicular papules on the face, trunk and extremities with partial loss of hairs on these areas and from that moment the disease became known as Siemens syndrome. Genetic studies in Dutch and English families showed connection with the Xp21.2-p22 gene. ⁸ However, other family analyses without evidence of inheritance linked to X suggest heterogeneous transmissions ^1,3,4,9 and also sporadic ⁶ ones.

This disease starts in the early years of life, initially on the face and progressing towards the trunk and limbs and it might spread to other parts of the body. Palm-plantar hyperkeratosis, photophobia, corneal abnormalities and atopies can be associated.¹ Men are more seriously affected by the disease.¹

The pathophysiology of the destruction of the pilar follicle is not well known yet. The first changes observed are hyperkeratosis and hypergranulosis of the infundibulum and isthmus, which cause inflammatory reaction (at the begining acute and lately chronic, with mononuclear infiltrate) on the epidermis and on the papillary dermis. Chronic changes are followed by fibrosis and the destruction of the follicle.

However, hyperkertosis does not seem to be the primary event; keratinocyte disorders would precipitate abnormal liberation of cytokine resulting in hyperkeratosis and inflammatory reactions.³

The most important differential diagnoses for keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans are: KID syndrome (keratosis, ichthyosis, deafness), atrichia with papular lesions, and inherited mucoepithelial dystrophia. ^5,10

This specific case refers to a female child, born from consaguineous parents presenting severe cicatricial alopecia that in general occurs in sporadic cases. The child was examined by specialists in genetics but it was not possible to determine if it was due to genetic inheritance or if it was a case of sporadic manifestation.

Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans can present phases of more intense inflammatory activity in childhood, getting better throughout adolescence, which does not impede the slow progression to cicatricial alopecia in a later phase.

The present case calls the attention for its gravity and precocity of changes (at birth) with difuse cicatricial alopecia on the scalp of a female patient.

The treatment is frustating, with a few reports of slight improvement in cases at an early stage that present a major inflammatory component. The improvement, in general, refers only to stabilization of the alopecia and clinical improvement of the areas that present erythema and pustulas. Keratolytics, topical and intra lesions corticoids can reduce hyperkertosis and inflammation, to a certain extent only.

Different systemic treatments including isotretinoin, etretinate, dapsone and antibiotics have been tried with varied results ^5,6,11 It is suggested that the use of retinoids in the early and more active phase of the disease, when histopathology shows perifollicular infiltrate, can bring some benefit. ³

Treatment is even more disappointing when the disease predominantly shows cicatricial changes, as in this present study. Treatment in this circumstance is reduced only to the use of topical paliative medication.

Although it is a rare genodermatosis, keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans should always be considered in all cases of hyperkertosis with alopecia as that apart from the genetic counselling needed in some cases, the treatment of such disease should be started the earliest possible (ideally still in the inflammatory phase) so as to retard and minimize the cictricial sequels.

REFERENCES

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