Background: Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB-Pr; OMIM 604129) is a rare manifestation of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), characterized by pruritus, nodular prurigo-like lesions and fragility of the skin mainly in the extremities. Fewer than 40 patients with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance, or sporadic DEB-Pr, have been described in the literature.
Objectives: To disclose mutations in DEB-Pr and to elucidate the role of other pathogenic factors which may influence the pruriginous phenotype.
Methods: Seven patients with typical clinical features of DEB-Pr were studied.
Results: In all patients, mutations in the gene encoding collagen VII (COL7A1) were disclosed, two of them novel (p.G2623V, p.E2736K). Three mutations were dominant, three recessive and one de novo. In the families with dominant DEB there were one or more members with DEB-Pr, but also at least one affected sibling who did not develop DEB-Pr. In six of seven patients, the clinical history revealed factors that initially induced pruritus, such as atopy, pregnancy, thyroid hormone imbalance, diabetes, infections and contact sensitization. Common filaggrin mutations were ruled out in all patients and normal filaggrin staining was found in the skin samples.
Conclusions: DEB-Pr develops as a result of COL7A1 gene mutations and acquired phenotype-modifying factors. Filaggrin mutations did not contribute to the pruriginous phenotype in the present patient cohort.