A female patient with the Rothmund-Thomson syndrome associated with anhidrosis and severe infections of the respiratory tract

Abstract

The Rothmund-Thomson syndrome is a rare syndrome which is believed to be inherited in an autosomal pattern. Poikiloderma of the face and extremities is a characteristic feature. Besides this, less common aspects have been reported like alopecia, cataracts, short stature, musculoskeletal/bone defects or small hands, hypogonadism, abnormal teeth, dysplastic nails, anhidrosis and a high incidence of cutaneous and non-cutaneous malignancies. We present a patient with the Rothmund-Thomson syndrome together with anhidrosis and multiple infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Investigation of immunological function revealed a low total number of T lymphocytes with a slightly depressed reactivity. Immunoglobulins were markedly increased.