title: Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa in Italy: clinical and molecular characterization.
abstract: Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) pruriginosa (DEB-Pr) is a rare variant of DEB due to COL7A1 dominant and recessive mutations, which is characterized by severe itching and lichenoid or nodular prurigo-like lesions, mainly involving the extremities. Less than 30 patients have been described showing variable disease expression, and frequently, delayed age of onset. We report the clinical and molecular characterization of seven Italian DEB patients, three affected with recessive DEB-Pr and four with dominant DEB-Pr. In all the patients, the signs were typical of a mild DEB phenotype, until the onset of pruritus, which was followed by worsening of the clinical picture, with appearance of the distinctive lichenified lesions of DEB-Pr. Nine mutations were found in the COL7A1 gene, three of which were novel and one was de novo. DEB-Pr patients with either dominant or recessive mutations were shown to synthesize a normal or variably reduced amount of type VII collagen, which was correctly deposited at the dermal-epidermal junction. Since six of these mutations have been reported in DEB patients in the absence of intense pruritus, these data implicate a role of yet unidentified phenotype-modifying factors in the pathogenesis of DEB-Pr.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castiglia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zoppi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gardella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tadini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Floriddia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedicelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barlati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zambruno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D024143:Collagen Type VII / Q000235:genetics; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D024143:Collagen Type VII; D007073:Immunoglobulin E