title: Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens (IBS) is a rare hyperkeratotic blistering condition caused by mutations in keratin 2e gene.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case of a 18-year-old female with generalized blisters, erosions and thickened skin since she was 3 months old. As she aged, there was decrease in development of blisters and erosions, with accompanying increase in severity of hyperkeratosis. Skin punch biopsy showed overlying basket weave hyperkeratosis and acanthosis, prominent vacuolization of the granular cell layer, and intraepidermal blisters with the split at the granular layer. The patient was treated with emollients, with marked improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mutations in the different keratin genes have been shown to underlie a wide range of disorders of keratinization. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens are distinct disorders with mutations in different genes. Although molecular genetic testing should ideally be done for confirmation of diagnosis, ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens could be diagnosed in this patients based on key clinical characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UP-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: Charlene U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Ang-Tiu
authors.forename: Marie Eleanore O
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nicolas
keywords: epidermolytic hyperkeratosis; ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens