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- $Unique_ID{BRK03649}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Darier Disease}
- $Subject{Darier Disease Dyskeratosis Follicularis Vegetans Keratosis
- Follicularis Psorospermosis Follicularis White-Darier Disease Acrokeratosis
- Verruciformis of Hopf Hyperkeratosis Follicularis in Cutem Penetrans (Kyrle
- Disease) Keratosis Pilaris (Follicular Ichthyosis) Psoriasis}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1990, 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
- Inc.
-
- 485:
- Darier Disease
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Darier Disease) is not the
- name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
- find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders covered by
- this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Dyskeratosis Follicularis Vegetans
- Keratosis Follicularis
- Psorospermosis Follicularis
- White-Darier Disease
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Acrokeratosis Verruciformis of Hopf
- Hyperkeratosis Follicularis in Cutem Penetrans (Kyrle Disease)
- Keratosis Pilaris (Follicular Ichthyosis)
- Psoriasis
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
-
- Darier Disease is a gradually progressive, hereditary skin disorder. It
- is characterized by elevated spots (papules) on the scalp, forehead, face,
- neck, area behind the ears, and middle of the back.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Darier Disease usually begins without apparent symptoms. Gradually, burning
- and itching skin occurs. Firm spots (papules) become larger and darker, and
- may be covered with gray/brown scales or crusts. These spots may increase in
- size and grow together into patches. The disorder is gradually progressive,
- and tends to become more severe with exposure to sunshine and/or emotional
- stress. Symptoms may improve during the winter.
-
- Causes
-
- Darier Disease is a dominant hereditary disorder. (Human traits including
- the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes
- for that condition, one received from the father and one from the mother. In
- dominant disorders, a single copy of the disease gene (received from either
- the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating" the normal gene and
- resulting in appearance of the disease. The risk of transmitting the
- disorder from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy
- regardless of the sex of the resulting child.)
-
- Affected Population
-
- Darier Disease usually begins during childhood, but it may appear as late as
- the 7th decade of life. Males are affected in greater numbers than females.
- In Denmark the incidence of this disorder is estimated at 1 in 10,000
- persons. In the United States, Darier Disease affects about 1 in 50,000
- persons or 20 per million. There are a total of 5,000 affected by the
- disease and seventy-five births of babies with Darier Disease occur
- annually.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Acrokeratosis Verruciformis of Hopf is a dominant hereditary skin disorder
- which tends to occur in members of families affected by dermatological
- conditions characterized by hardened skin. Symptoms of the disorder include
- flat-topped or slightly convex, smooth, firm, elevated spots (papules)
- usually distributed symmetrically on the back of both hands, feet, wrists
- and/or ankles. Spots may be few or numerous; they may range in size from
- 1/16 to 1/4 inch. Spots are mostly flesh-colored, some are light brown. The
- palms of the hands and the soles of the feet may be hardened
- (hyperkeratotic). Nails are opaque and brittle.
-
- Hyperkeratosis Follicularis in Cutem Penetrans (Kyrle Disease) is a rare
- skin disease occurring mostly in female adults. It is characterized by
- painful, scattered eruptions with horn-like cone-shaped plugs. Usually only
- the extremities, buttocks and cheeks are involved.
-
- Keratosis Pilaris (Follicular Ichthyosis) is a common skin disorder
- occurring during adolescence. It is characterized by mild redness of the
- skin with elevated hardened spots (keratotic papules) in irregular
- distribution, and the appearance of gooseflesh, especially on thighs and
- arms. (To locate information about other types of Ichthyosis, choose
- "Ichthyosis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Psoriasis is a common chronic and recurrent skin disease characterized by
- dry, well circumscribed, silvery, scaling elevated spots (papules) and
- plaques of various sizes. Psoriasis varies in severity from mild to severe.
- (For more information on this disorder, choose "Psoriasis" as your search
- term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Darier Disease can be diagnosed from examination of nail tissue. The
- disorder is usually treated with the aromatic retinoid drug etretinate.
- Surgical removal of foreign and dead tissue from the lesions (debridement)
- may also be helpful.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through March
- 1991. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Darier Disease, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (F.I.R.S.T.)
- P.O. Box 410453
- San Francisco, CA 94103
- (415) 591-1653
-
- The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
- Clearinghouse
- Box AMS
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 495-4484
-
- For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals, please contact:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- GENETICALLY TRANSMITTED, GENERALIZED DISORDERS OF CORNIFICATION: THE
- ICHTHYOSES: M.L. Williams, et al.; Dermatologic Clinics (January 1987: issue
- 5(1)). Pp. 173-175.
-
- ETRETINATE: EFFECT OF MILK INTAKE ON ABSORPTION: J.J. DiGiovanna, et
- al.; Journal Invest Dermatol (June 1984: issue 82(6)). Pp. 636-640.
-
- THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF HYPERTROPHIC DARIER'S DISEASE: R.G. Wheeland,
- et al.; Journal Dermatol Surg Oncol (April 1985: issue 11(4)). Pp. 420-423.
-
-