In dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, the genetic defect of anchoring fibrils leads to cleavage beneath the basement membrane and its consequent loss. A 46 year-old female patient presented blisters with a pretibial distribution associated with nail dystrophy. Her two children had hyponychia and anonychia, which affected all toe nails and the thumb, forefinger and middle finger. DNA sequencing i...

BACKGROUND Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is an incurable, often fatal mucocutaneous blistering disease caused by mutations in COL7A1, the gene encoding type VII collagen (C7). On the basis of preclinical data showing biochemical correction and prolonged survival in col7 −/− mice, we hypothesized that allogeneic marrow contains stem cells capable of ameliorating the manifestations o...

Pasini's albopapuloid epidermolysis bullosa is a very rare subtype of generalized dystrophic dominant epidermolyis bullosa. A 30 year-old white female patient presented since her childhood disseminated small blisters and papules. Light microscopy of a blister showed dermal-epidermal cleavage; moreover, focal areas of dermal-epidermal splitting were also observed. Transmission electron microscop...

Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of mechano-bullous genetic disorders caused by mutations in the genes encoding structural proteins of the skin. Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene encoding collagen VII, the main constituent of anchoring fibrils. In this group, there are autosomal dominant and recessive inheritances. The pre-tibial form is characterized by...

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a heritable skin disorder characterized by skin fragility and blistering. While its most severe variant, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the development of extracutaneous neoplasms in EBS is extremely rare. We report a novel case of supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (sPNET) in a 7-year m...

BACKGROUND Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa is a form of junctional epidermolysis bullosa characterized by skin fragility; atrophic alopecia; sparse eyebrows, eyelashes, and axillary and pubic hair; dystrophic fingernails and toenails; and enamel defects in decidual and permanent teeth. Substantial progress was recently made elucidating the genetic defects underlying this disor...

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) encompasses a group of inherited blistering skin disorders classified into three main subtypes of simplex, junctional and dystrophic. In recent years there have been substantial advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of these conditions and in the management of such patients. In spite of this progress, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is still a major cause...

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB-Pr) is a rare subtype of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). This disease is characterized by severe itching, lichenoid nodules or prurigo-like lesions, and linear scarring with a predilection for the extensor limbs. Pathogenic mutations in the type VII collagen alpha 1 (COL7A1) gene have been identified. We analyzed mutations in the COL7A1 ...