home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK03868}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Ichthyosis, Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome}
- $Subject{Ichthyosis, Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome Disorder of Cornification 23 DOC
- 23 Erythrokeratodermia with Ataxia Ichthyosis Congenita X-Linked Ichthyosis
- Ichthyosis}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993 National Organization for Rare
- Disorders, Inc.
-
- 557:
- Ichthyosis, Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of this article (Giroux-Barbeau
- Syndrome) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM list to
- find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Disorder of Cornification 23
- DOC 23
- Erythrokeratodermia with Ataxia
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Ichthyosis
- Ichthyosis Congenita
- X-Linked Ichthyosis
-
- 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 physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section
- of this report.
-
-
- Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome is a hereditary skin disorder characterized by
- groups of red hardened plaques which develop during infancy and childhood.
- After these skin lesions heal, a neurological syndrome develops during
- adulthood. Skin symptoms are a form of Ichthyosis, and may improve during
- the summer months.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome starts during early infancy. This disorder is
- characterized by groups of red hardened scaly skin plaques (ichthyosis) that
- remain throughout childhood, but disappear during young adulthood. These
- plaques tend to develop most often on the skin of the extremities. They
- usually disappear during the summer. A progressive neurologic syndrome
- develops during adulthood, consisting of impaired muscle coordination
- (ataxia), imperfect articulation of speech (dysarthria), involuntary rhythmic
- oscillation of the eyes (nystagmus), and decreased tendon reflexes.
-
- Causes
-
- Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome is a hereditary disorder transmitted through
- autosomal dominant genes. (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 other 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.)
-
- (For an understanding of the group of skin disorders known as Ichthyosis,
- see the Related Disorders section of this report.)
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders may be similar to those of Giroux-Barbeau
- Syndrome. Comparisons can be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- "Ichthyosis" or "Disorders of Cornification" are general terms describing
- a group of scaly skin disorders. They are characterized by an abnormal
- accumulation of large amounts of dead skin cells (squames) in the top layer of
- the skin. The conversion of an abnormally large number of epidermal cells
- into squamous cells is thought to be caused by a defect in the metabolism of
- skin cells known as "corneocytes" or of the fat-rich matrix around these
- cells. The cells can be thought of as bricks, while the matrix would be the
- mortar holding these cells together. (For more information, choose
- "Ichthyosis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Ichthyosis Congenita (Collodion Baby; Congenital Ichthyosiform
- Erythroderma; Xeroderma; Desquamation of Newborn) is an inherited skin
- disorder. It is characterized by generalized, abnormally red, dry and rough
- skin, with large, coarse scales. Itchiness (pruritus) usually also develops.
- Skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet is abnormally thick.
- (For more information, choose "Ichthyosis Congenita" as your search term in
- the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- X-Linked Ichthyosis is an inherited skin disorder affecting males, caused
- by a deficiency of the enzyme steroid sulfatase. This enzyme deficiency
- leads to biochemical alterations in steroid hormone metabolism. Cholesterol
- sulfate may accumulate in the blood and skin. (For more information, choose
- "X-Linked Ichthyosis," as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Other forms of Ichthyosis include Sjogren-Larsson Syndrome, Netherton
- Syndrome, Ichthyosis Hystrix, Lamellar Ichthyosis, Refsum Syndrome, Darier
- Disease, Conradi-Hunermann Syndrome, Chanarin-Dorfman Syndrome, and
- Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis. (Choose the appropriate name as your search
- term for more information on that disorder in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Skin symptoms of Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome are treated by applying skin
- softening (emollient) ointments, preferably plain petroleum jelly. This can
- be especially effective after bathing while the skin is still moist.
- Salicylic acid gel is another particularly effective ointment. The skin
- should be covered at night with an airtight, waterproof dressing when this
- ointment is used. Lactate lotion can also be an effective treatment for this
- disorder.
-
- Treatment for neurological symptoms is symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Drugs derived from Vitamin A (retinoids) such as tretinoin, motretinide, and
- etretinate can be effective against dermatologic symptoms of Giroux-Barbeau
- Syndrome, but can cause toxic effects on the bones in some cases. A
- synthetic derivative of Vitamin A, isotretinoin, when taken by pregnant
- women, can cause severe birth defects to the fetus. These Vitamin A
- compounds have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration
- (FDA) for treatment of Ichthyosis.
-
- The National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is
- looking for patients with various kinds of Ichthyosis willing to participate
- in research aimed at mapping the genes responsible for their disorder.
- Interested persons may contact:
-
- Dr. Sherri Bale
- National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 402-2679
-
- The orphan product Monolaurin (Glylorin) is being tested for treatment of
- Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome. The product is manufactured by:
-
- Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- 371 Bel Marin Keys, Suite 210
- Novato, CA 94949
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- May 1993. 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 Giroux-Barbeau Syndrome, 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, Inc. (F.I.R.S.T.)
- P.O. Box 20921
- Raleigh, NC 27619-0921
- (919) 782-5728
- (800) 545-3286
-
- The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
- Information Clearinghouse
- Box AMS
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 495-4484
-
- For information on genetics 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.; Dermatol Clin (January 1987: issue 5(1)).
- Pp. 155-178.
-
- THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF LACTATE 12% LOTION IN THE TREATMENT OF
- ICHTHYOSIS. ACTIVE VERSUS VEHICLE AND ACTIVE VERSUS A PETROLEUM CREAM: M.
- Buxman, et al.; Journal Am Acad Dermatol (December 1986: issue 15(6)). Pp.
- 1253-1258.
-
- THE METABOLIC BASIS OF INHERITED DISEASE, 5th ed.: John B. Stanbury, et
- al., eds.; McGraw Hill, 1983. Pp. 1027-1039.
-
- MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns
- Hopkins University Press, 1986. P. 237.
-
-