title: Nevus anemicus: a distinctive cutaneous finding in neurofibromatosis type 1.
abstract: Nevus anemicus (NA) is a cutaneous anomaly characterized by pale, well-defined patches with limited vascularization after rubbing. They are largely known to be associated with neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) and have received little attention in the literature until recently. We sought to characterize the prevalence and clinical features of patients with NA and NF1. We conducted an observational prospective study of 99 children with NF1 at the Hospital Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain, from January 1, 2012, through July 31, 2013, and reviewed three other series of patients with NF1 and NA recently reported. The prevalence of NA in children with NF1 ranged from 8.8% to 51%, being much more prevalent at younger ages. Prospective studies yielded a higher prevalence than retrospective studies. NA was located most commonly on the trunk, particularly on the anterior chest wall, and was often multiple. Patients with segmental NF1 or isolated café au lait spots rarely had NA, and NA was absent in other genodermatoses. The collection of data was not homogeneous in all studies. NA has a high prevalence in individuals with NF1 patients but seems to be absent in connection with other genodermatoses, therefore its presence can assist in the diagnosis of suspected cases of NF1. The subtle clinical appearance of NA makes its detection difficult, and physicians involved in the care of children with NF1 must be aware of its possible presence and significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernández-Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Sureste, Arganda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duat
authors.affiliation: Primary Health Care Centre of Soto del Real, Soto del Real, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: López-Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noguera-Morel
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Infantil del Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrelo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications*; D009506:Nevus / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*