Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
| Rothmund-Thomson syndrome | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Panel showing some clinical features of the RTS syndrome. A) Chronic phase of cheek poikiloderma (4-year-old girl). B) Poikiloderma with alopecia (21-year-old boy). C) Poikiloderma. D) Poikiloderma sparing the trunk (courtesy of Professor M. Paradisi, Rome). E) Photo distributed poikiloderma and valgism of the knees. F) Thumb aplasia (patient B). G) Bone defect seen by X-Rays: cystic-like destructive lesion of the humerus (distal epiphysis) without apparent solution of continuity of the cortical bone (patient E). | |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | medical genetics |
| ICD-10 | Q82.8 (ILDS Q82.852) |
| ICD-9-CM | 757.33 |
| OMIM | 268400 |
| DiseasesDB | 29891 |
| eMedicine | derm/379 |
| MeSH | D011038 |
| GeneReviews | |
| Orphanet | 2909 |
Rothmund–Thomson syndrome (RTS), also known as poikiloderma atrophicans with cataract or poikiloderma congenitale, is a rare autosomal recessive skin condition originally described by August von Rothmund (1830–1906) in 1868. Matthew Sydney Thomson (1894–1969) published further descriptions in 1936.
There have been several reported cases associated with osteosarcoma. A hereditary genetic basis, mutations in the DNA Helicase RECQL4 gene, causing problems during initiation of DNA replication has been implicated in the syndrome
The skin is normal at birth. Between 3 and 6 months of age, the affected carrier develops poikiloderma on the cheeks. This characteristic “rash” that all RTS carriers have can develop on the arms, legs and buttocks. “Poikiloderma consists of areas of increased and decreased pigmentation, prominent blood vessels, and thinning of the skin”
In humans, individuals with RTS, and carrying the RECQL4 germline mutation, can have several clinical features of accelerated aging. These features include atrophic skin and pigment changes, alopecia, osteopenia, cataracts and an increased incidence of cancer. Also in mice, RECQL4 mutants show features of accelerated aging.
RTS is caused by a mutation of the RECQL4 gene, located at chromosome 8q24.3. The disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means the defective gene responsible for the disorder is located on an autosome (chromosome 8 is an autosome), and two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) are required in order to be born with the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder both carry one copy of the defective gene, but usually do not experience any signs or symptoms of the disorder.
...
Wikipedia