Erythrokeratodermia

Erythrokeratodermia
Synonyms	Erythrokeratodermia variabilis, Erythrokeratodermia progressiva
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Red patches, thickened skin, scaling
Complications	N/A
Onset	Childhood or infancy
Duration	Lifelong
Types	N/A
Causes	Genetic mutations
Risks	Family history
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, genetic testing
Differential diagnosis	Psoriasis, Ichthyosis, Atopic dermatitis
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Emollients, Keratolytics, Retinoids
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Erythrokeratodermia is a rare skin condition characterized by red patches and thickening of the skin. It is a type of genodermatosis, a group of inherited skin disorders.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of erythrokeratodermia are red patches and thickening of the skin. These patches can appear anywhere on the body, but are most commonly found on the arms, legs, and trunk. The patches can be itchy and uncomfortable, and may change in size and shape over time.

Causes

Erythrokeratodermia is caused by mutations in the GJB3 or GJB4 genes. These genes provide instructions for making proteins that form gap junctions, which allow cells to communicate with each other. Mutations in these genes disrupt the normal functioning of gap junctions, leading to the symptoms of erythrokeratodermia.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of erythrokeratodermia is based on the characteristic skin symptoms. A skin biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Genetic testing can also be done to identify mutations in the GJB3 or GJB4 genes.

Treatment

There is no cure for erythrokeratodermia, but treatments can help manage the symptoms. These may include emollients to moisturize the skin, keratolytics to remove excess skin, and retinoids to reduce skin thickening.

See also

• Genodermatosis
• Skin biopsy
• GJB3
• GJB4