Familial generalized anhidrosis.
A young Caucasian male, otherwise healthy, had had generalized anhidrosis since early childhood. During heat stress tests (40 degrees C, 40% relative humidity), he was found to be heat intolerant since sweat was not apparent. His reaction to muscarinic stimulation of sweat glands was 10% of normal. On biopsy, the sweat glands were morphologically intact, and function of his cardiovascular autonomic responses was normal. The patient's mother reported reduced sweating and her response to muscarinic stimulation was 50% of normal, but his father and both sisters sweated normally. The data suggest a post-ganglionic defect, which may be genetic. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of familial generalized anhidrosis without anatomopathological lesions affecting sweat glands.
Heller Institute of Medical Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
E J
EJ
Dann
Y
Y
Epstein
E
E
Sohar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007007:Hypohidrosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013546:Sweating