Gerodermia osteodysplastica hereditaria: report of three affected brothers and literature review

Abstract

Gerodermia osteodysplastica hereditaria was diagnosed in three Mexican brothers 6, 7, and 8 years old, respectively, who had the distinct facial appearance with sagging cheeks, premature wrinkling of the skin of face, abdomen, and dorsum of hands and feet; malocclusion, span greater than height; hyperextensibility; winging of the scapulae; stooped posture with kyphoscoliosis; protuberant abdomen; and pes planus. Radiologically they had generalized osteoplorosis, platyspondily due to multiple compression fractures, pseudoepiphyses of second metacarpals, and dislocated hips. Three other families with a total of 14 affected individuals have been reported. Inter- and intrafamilial variability can be recognized, particularly regarding the tendency to fractures, upper:lower segment ratio abnormalities, and results of skin biopsies, which have shown fragmentation of the elastic fibers in some cases (including the present family) and not in others. Although inheritance was considered to be X-linked recessive in the first reported family, an analysis of that pedigree together with those of the other reported families, including the present one, suggests that gerodermia osteodrysplastica is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.