BACKGROUND: Congenital atrichias represent a complex and heterogeneous group of genodermatoses, which have been shown in several consanguineous families to result from homozygous mutations in the hairless gene (HR). OBJECTIVES: To identify the molecular basis of congenital atrichia in a non-consanguineous family. METHODS: Genetic analysis was carried out in a two-generation family with two children with congenital atrichia and one healthy child. RESULTS: We established a diagnosis of atrichia with papular lesions based on clinical and histopathological data. We identified a heterozygous 11-bp deletion (189-199del) in the two affected children and their mother. In addition, the two affected children and their father were shown to carry a non sense mutation (Q478X), which has previously been described in a Pakistani family. Haplotype analysis revealed that mutation Q478X occurred independently in the two families. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the first case of compound heterozygosity for mutations in HR as well as the first instance of a recurrent mutation in this gene. These data further expand our understanding of the molecular pathomechanisms underlying congenital atrichias.
BACKGROUND:Congenital atrichias represent a complex and heterogeneous group of genodermatoses, which have been shown in several consanguineous families to result from homozygous mutations in the hairless gene (HR). OBJECTIVES: To identify the molecular basis of congenital atrichia in a non-consanguineous family. METHODS: Genetic analysis was carried out in a two-generation family with two children with congenital atrichia and one healthy child. RESULTS: We established a diagnosis of atrichia with papular lesions based on clinical and histopathological data. We identified a heterozygous 11-bp deletion (189-199del) in the two affected children and their mother. In addition, the two affected children and their father were shown to carry a non sense mutation (Q478X), which has previously been described in a Pakistani family. Haplotype analysis revealed that mutation Q478X occurred independently in the two families. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the first case of compound heterozygosity for mutations in HR as well as the first instance of a recurrent mutation in this gene. These data further expand our understanding of the molecular pathomechanisms underlying congenital atrichias.