Hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: study of a large Chinese pedigree.

Hidrotic ectodermaldysplasia was found, to our knowledge, for the first time in a Chinese family in Malaysia, and it affected 15 members in five generations. The disease, which is transmitted as a non-sex-linked autosomal dominant trait, presumably originated from southern China. All 15 members had the typical nail, hair, and skin lesions, and we observed three different types of nail defects. Scalp alopeica was more extensive in the female members while keratoderma of the palms and soles was more notable in the male members. The nail and skin lesions also became severer with age. Except for the infectious eczematoid dermatitis present in the propositus, none had other skin or systemic disorders. All were relatively healthy and had normal life expectancies;