Skin lesions at birth

Harlequin ichthyosis. It is an extremely rare and serious congenital ichthyosis with strikingly odd features. Autosomal recessive inheritance is seen. Mutations involving the ABCA12 lipid transporter gene are the cause. {1,2} Infants at birth are encased in a markedly thickened, hard stratum corneum. Soon after birth this cracks, resulting in deep red transverse and longitudinal fissures separating thick yellow plates of skin. The normal facial features are severely affected, with distortion of the lips {eclabion}, eyelids {ectropion}, ears, and nostrils, along with edematous hands and feet. {2,3} Harlequin ichthyosis was almost fatal in the past. However, infants can survive if good neonatal care with appropriate skin specific care is provided. Infrequently, it may present with a milder phenotype. Impaired skin barrier function is responsible for all further complications. Increased fluid and heat loss can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, disrupted thermoregulation, sepsis and malnutrition. Due to the membrane, these babies have restricted movements, which results in difficulty in feeding, along with impaired ventilation, hypoxia and pneumonia. Constricting bands of skin can even compromise perfusion and lead to peripheral edema and ischemia. {3} Management includes providing a humidified, temperature controlled environment, daily bathing with water, and liberal applications of emollients such as petrolatum based products, along with treatment of infections. Oral retinoids help by accelerating shedding of the thick skin layer and fasten recovery. {3,4}

References :

Akiyama M, Sugiyama-Nakagiri Y, Sakai K, McMillan JR, Goto M, Arita K, et al. Mutations in lipid transporter ABCA12 in harlequin ichthyosis and functional recovery by corrective gene transfer. J Clin Invest.2005;115:1777-1784. Kelsell DP, Norgett EE, Unsworth H, The MT, Cullup T, Mein CA, et al. Mutations in ABCA12 underlie the severe congenital skin disease harlequin ichthyosis. Am J Hum. Genet. 2005; 76: 794–803 Craiglow BG. Ichthyosis in the newborn. Semin Perinatol. 2013;37:26–31. Ward PS, Jones RD. Successful treatment of a harlequin fetus. Arch Dis Child. 1989; 64: 1309–1311.