Ichthyosis Prematurity Syndrome: From Fetus to Adulthood

Ichthyosis prematurity syndrome (IPS) is a rare form of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis caused by mutations in SLC27A4 (OMIM: 604194) encoding fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) that affect keratinocyte differentiation and skin barrier formation. It is characterized by prematurity, thick caseous desquamating epidermis, and perinatal respiratory asphyxia. Despite its well-described clinical features and major perinatal mortality risk, IPS is still rarely recognized, and only a few cases have been reported.

The female proband was first diagnosed with IPS as a 22-week-old fetus by amniocentesis and fetal skin biopsy, which was performed because her older brother was born prematurely at 33 weeks’ gestation, owing to maternal polyhydramnios, and died at age 12 hours with ichthyosis and pulmonary obstruction. The proband’s amniotic fluid contained numerous abnormal corneocytes and debris (Figure 1A). Histologic analysis of her fetal skin revealed hyperkeratosis and acanthosis with follicular plugging (Figure 1B). Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated perinuclear swelling of keratinocytes (Figure 1C) and lipid profiles with curved trilamellar lamellae in the horny layer (Figure 1D). All of these findings are characteristic of IPS.

The proband was also delivered prematurely at 31 weeks’ gestation, owing to maternal polyhydramnios. Immediately after birth, she was on a ventilator for 2 days and remained in neonatal intensive care for an extended period because of respiratory asphyxia resulting from aspiration of amniotic fluid debris. At birth, she was erythrodermic with a thick caseous desquamating epidermis and hyperkeratotic scale over the scalp and eyebrows that persisted beyond age 8 weeks (Figure 2A). The vernix caseosa–like scale was shed over several weeks, leaving generalized follicular ichthyosis. Hair, eyes, teeth, mucosa, and nails were all normal. During childhood, follicular ichthyosis and skin hyperpigmentation became more prominent over the flexures (Figure 2B). She also had asthma, allergic rhinitis, and mild eosinophilia (1050/μL; normal range, 100/μL-800/μL) that persisted into adulthood. Serum IgE was not recorded. During adolescence, a 12-month treatment regimen of oral retinoids (≤1 mg/kg acitretin) had no clinical benefit. At last follow-up, age 21 years, her skin displayed generalized nonerythrodermic ichthyosis with follicular hyperkeratosis particularly over the flexures with mild hyperpigmentation (Figure 2C).

Both affected younger siblings of the proband shared a similar clinical course, with generalized follicular ichthyosis and atopic manifestations. However, both unrelated parents, the proband’s only child (7-month-old son), and all 3 children from her father’s previous marriage were unaffected.

Genomic sequencing of SLC27A4 on the 3 affected living siblings, including the proband (Figure 2D), and the unaffected parents revealed 2 recessive heterozygous mutations: a missense mutation, c.899A>G, p.Gln300Arg (exon 7); and a nonsense mutation, c.1336C>T, p.Gln446* (exon 10) (a new variant). Both mutations were found within the highly conserved adenosine monophosphate–binding domain of FATP4 (amino acids 103-536). Immunofluorescence staining for FATP4 (clone ab72724; Abcam) showed almost complete loss of expression in the proband’s lesional skin compared with the bright mid and upper epidermal labeling in control skin (Figure 1E).

Recent cases of IPS from Asia suggest that its frequency may be underestimated worldwide.^1,2 The highest incidence of IPS reported has been in Scandinavia, with p.Gln300Arg as a frequent recurrent ancestral mutation^3,4—the same maternal mutation identified in the present case, although geographically that side of the family resided in Ireland for several generations. It is plausible, therefore, that this mutation (which has not been detected in other Irish cases of IPS)⁵ has occurred on a different genetic background. Indeed, a different recurrent mutation in Scandinavia, p.Val477Asp, has also been identified in 2 Irish siblings with IPS.⁵

The clinical characteristics and course of our patient are similar to previously reported features of IPS,^1-6 of which the largest case series examined 17 European families.⁶ The present case uniquely describes pathognomonic ultrastructural features in the skin and amniotic fluid from as early as 22-weeks’ gestation. When our patient was born, genetic testing was unavailable, and therefore fetal skin biopsy was essential for the diagnosis. Consequently, through genetic counseling, the mother underwent regular antenatal ultrasonography with each subsequent pregnancy, facilitating preemptive management of polyhydramnios and perinatal respiratory asphyxia with excellent postnatal outcomes for all 3 surviving children. Our case highlights the importance of early recognition and diagnosis of IPS with coordinated multidisciplinary care for optimal management.

Corresponding Author: John A. McGrath, MD, FRCP, FMedSci, Dermatology Research Laboratories, Floor 9 Tower Wing, Guy’s Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, England (john.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk).

Published Online: May 25, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.1187.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: This study was supported in part by the Department of Health via the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy’s and St Thomas’ National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding institutions had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Additional Contributions: We thank the patient for granting permission to publish this information. We also thank Lu Liu, PhD, Viapath, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, England, and Rashida Pramanik, BSc (Hons), St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London (Guy’s Campus), London, England, for technical support; and Debra E. Lomas, MA MB BChir, MRCP, Department of Dermatology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, for administrative and material support. None received any compensation for their contributions.