Answer of Dermatopathology Case 46

Hailey-Hailey Disease

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Abstract:

Familial benign chronic pemphigus (Hailey-Hailey disease) Dermatol Online J. 2009 Aug 15;15(8):15.

A case of eczema herpeticum with hailey-hailey disease. Ann Dermatol. 2009 Aug;21(3):311-4.

Reevaluation of the normal epidermal calcium gradient, and analysis of calcium levels and ATP receptors in Hailey-Hailey and Darier epidermis. J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Jun;129(6):1379-87. Epub 2008 Dec 4.

Electron probe microanalysis was used to analyze elemental content of human epidermis. The results revealed that the calcium content of the basal keratinocyte layer was higher than that of the lowest spinous cell layer in normal epidermis. This was surprising, as it is generally accepted that the calcium level increases with cellular differentiation from the proliferative basal layer to the stratum corneum. Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) and Darier disease (DD) are caused by mutations in Ca(2+)-ATPases with the end result of desmosomal disruption and suprabasal acantholysis. The results demonstrated three major aberrations in HHD and DD lesions. First, in HHD and DD lesions the calcium content in the basal layer was lower than in the normal skin. Second, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) receptor P2Y2 was not localized to plasma membrane in acantholytic cells, whereas P2X7 appeared in the plasma membrane, potentially mediating apoptosis. Third, transition of keratin 14 to keratin 10 was abnormal as demonstrated by the presence of keratinocytes expressing both cytokeratins, which are usually exclusive in normal epidermis. Our results provide to our knowledge previously unreported elements for understanding how the disturbed calcium gradient is linked to the alterations in ATP receptors and keratin expression, leading to the clinical findings in HHD and DD.

A Case of Hailey-Hailey Disease in an Infant with a New ATP2C1 Gene Mutation. Pediatr Dermatol.2010 Apr 9.

Familial benign chronic pemphigus or Hailey-Hailey disease (OMIM 169600) is an autosomal-dominant blistering disease. Here we present a rare case of familial benign chronic pemphigus in a Chinese infant. The 5-month-old proband, who showed diffusely distributed skin lesions, is the youngest patient of Hailey-Hailey disease ever reported. The detection of an ATP2C1 gene mutation in this infant confirmed the diagnosis. His mother carried the same mutation, but with no history of skin lesions.

Heterogeneous mutations of the ATP2C1 gene causing Hailey-Hailey disease in Hong Kong Chinese.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Mar 4.

Abstract Background Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is a rare autosomal dominant dermatosis. It causes suprabasilar acantholysis leading to vesicular and crusted erosions affecting the flexures. Mutation of ATP2C1 gene encoding the human secretory pathway Ca(2+)/Mn(2+)-ATPase (hSPCA1) was identified to be the cause of this entity. Objective The aim of this study was to study the mutational profile of the ATP2C1 gene in Hong Kong Chinese patients with HHD. Methods Patients with the clinical diagnosis of HHD proven by skin biopsy were included in this study. Mutation analysis was performed in 17 Hong Kong Chinese patients with HHD. Results Ten mutations in the ATP2C1 gene were found. Six of these were novel mutations. The novel mutations included a donor splice site mutation (IVS22+1G>A); a missense mutation (c.1049A>T); two deletion mutations (c.185_188delAGTT and c.923_925delAAG); an acceptor splice site mutation (IVS21-1G>C) and an insertion mutation (c.2454dupT). Conclusion The six novel mutations provide additions to the HHD mutation database. No hot-spot mutation was found and high allelic heterogeneity was demonstrated in the Hong Kong Chinese patients.