title: Quantification of n-alkanes in stratum corneum in the hereditary ichthyoses.
abstract: Chromatographic assay of n-alkanes in skin showed detectable levels in normal controls and in patients with various forms of hereditary ichthyosis. Raised n-alkanes were found in some, but not all, patients with non-bullous and bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma and in individual patients with lamellar ichthyosis, ichthyosis vulgaris and Netherton's syndrome. The finding of elevated scale n-alkanes is neither consistent in ichthyosis, nor specific to any one type of ichthyosis, and n-alkane assay is not helpful in distinguishing one type of hereditary ichthyosis from another. The source of n-alkanes in ichthyotic scale and their role, if any, in the pathogenesis of ichthyosis remain obscure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospitals for Sick Children, London, U.K.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morse-Fisher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manku
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004643:Emollients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016113:Ichthyosiform Erythroderma, Congenital; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D016114:Ichthyosis, X-Linked; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016111:Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D004643:Emollients