title: Lamellar ichthyosis with genu valgum: unfolding the link.
abstract: We describe a case of lamellar ichthyosis with bilateral genu valgum. The association of genu valgum with congenital ichthyosis is rare. Our patient, a 22-year-old girl, had lamellar ichthyosis and was born with a collodion membrane. She developed progressive valgus deformity of the knees of 5 years duration associated with difficulty in walking. On evaluation, she had generalised scaly skin lesions along with bilateral genu valgum and biochemical evidence of vitamin D deficiency. Skin serves as an important site for vitamin D synthesis and thus skeletal deformities secondary to vitamin D deficiency may occur in cases of congenital ichthyosis, causing a diagnostic dilemma due to the unusual association. This case serves as a reminder that clinicians need to be aware of such an association in order to prevent, appropriately diagnose and adequately treat the rare case of congenital ichthyosis with rickets and osteomalacia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India. nilsdeka@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Nilakshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.forename: Dipti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: Uma Kaimal
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Saikia
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D056304:Genu Valgum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017490:Ichthyosis, Lamellar / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012279:Rickets / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult