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- $Unique_ID{BRK03875}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Ichthyosis, Tay Syndrome}
- $Subject{Ichthyosis, Tay Syndrome Disorder of Cornification 14
- (Trichothiodystrophy Type) DOC 14 (Trichothiodystrophy Type) IBIDS Syndrome
- Ichthyosiform Erythroderma with Hair Abnormality and Growth and Mental
- Retardation Ichthyosis, Congenital, with Trichothiodystrophy
- Trichothiodystrophy with Congenital Ichthyosis BIDS Syndrome (Brittle hair,
- Intellectual impairment, Decreased fertility, Short stature; Amish Brittle
- Hair Syndrome) Pollitt Syndrome (Trichorrhexis Nodosa Syndrome) Ichthyoses
- (Disorders of Cornification) Netherton Syndrome }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1993 National Organization for Rare Disorders,
- Inc.
-
- 554:
- Ichthyosis, Tay Syndrome
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of this article (Tay 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 14 (Trichothiodystrophy Type)
- DOC 14 (Trichothiodystrophy Type)
- IBIDS Syndrome
- Ichthyosiform Erythroderma with Hair Abnormality and Growth and Mental
- Retardation
- Ichthyosis, Congenital, with Trichothiodystrophy
- Trichothiodystrophy with Congenital Ichthyosis
-
- Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- BIDS Syndrome (Brittle hair, Intellectual impairment, Decreased
- fertility, Short stature; Amish Brittle Hair Syndrome)
- Pollitt Syndrome (Trichorrhexis Nodosa Syndrome)
- Ichthyoses (Disorders of Cornification)
- Netherton Syndrome
-
- 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.
-
-
- Tay Syndrome is a hereditary disorder characterized by brittle, twisted
- hair, scaly dry skin (ichthyosis), and abnormal finger and toe nails. Loss
- of subcutaneous fat results in a prematurely aged-looking face. Physical
- development is usually slowed and mental retardation may also be present. A
- wide variety of central nervous system abnormalities may include seizures,
- tremors, lack of muscle coordination (ataxia), and neurosensory deafness.
- The reproductive organs are usually underdeveloped. Very small cataracts
- often develop in the eyes. Abnormalities of the bones and teeth may also
- occur, as well as an increased susceptibility to infection.
-
- Symptoms
-
- Tay Syndrome is characterized by brittle, twisted hair that is low in sulfur
- content (trichothyodystrophy). The skin over most of the body surface is
- covered with fine, dark scales (ichthyosis). This so-called "disorder of
- cornification" of the skin may be present at birth as a parchment-like
- (collodion) membrane. The sulfur deficient nails are abnormally short,
- broad, and ridged, and they split easily. Loss of subcutaneous fat usually
- results in a prematurely old-looking face. A beaked nose, receding chin, and
- protruding ears are also characteristic of Tay Syndrome.
-
- The central nervous system may be affected with seizures, tremors, lack
- of muscle coordination, and nerve deafness. The testes may fail to descend
- (cryptorchidism) in males, and female genitalia may be underdeveloped. In
- women, breast tissue may be completely absent in spite of normal development
- of the nipples. Very small cataracts often occur in the eyes. Bone and
- teeth abnormalities appear in some cases. Patients with Tay Syndrome may
- also have an increased susceptibility to infection.
-
- Causes
-
- Tay Syndrome is a hereditary disorder transmitted through autosomal recessive
- 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 recessive disorders, the condition does
- not appear unless a person inherits the same defective gene from each parent.
- If one receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will
- be a carrier for the disease, but usually will show no symptoms. The risk of
- transmitting the disease to the children of a couple, both of whom are
- carriers for a recessive disorder, is twenty-five percent. Fifty percent of
- their children will be carriers, but healthy as described above. Twenty-five
- percent of their children will receive both normal genes, one from each
- parent and will be genetically normal.)
-
- Affected Population
-
- Tay Syndrome is usually present at birth. Males and females are affected in
- equal numbers.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Symptoms of the following disorders may resemble those of Tay Syndrome.
- Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Amish Brittle Hair Syndrome (Hair-Brain Syndrome; BIDS Syndrome) is a
- rare hereditary disorder that tends to occur in people of Amish descent. It
- is characterized by brittle hair, intellectual impairment, decreased
- fertility, and short stature. It lacks the skin and facial abnormalities of
- Tay Syndrome.
-
- Pollitt Syndrome (Trichorrhexis Nodosa Syndrome) is a hereditary
- disorder characterized by mental and physical retardation, an abnormally
- small head and fragile hair (trichorrhexis nodosa) that may fall out. The
- skin is usually scaly and the nails are underdeveloped and spoon-shaped.
- Some researchers believe this disorder may be the same as Amish Brittle Hair
- Syndrome.
-
- "Ichthyoses" 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.)
-
- Netherton Syndrome is a very rare form of ichthyosis that occurs almost
- exclusively in females. It is characterized by scaling of the skin in a
- circular pattern. Hair shafts are held back in the hair root (trichorrhexis
- invaginata). Fragile hair on the head characteristic of this disorder is
- called "bamboo hair" (trichorrhexis nodosa). Patients with Netherton
- Syndrome are usually predisposed to allergies such as asthma, or food
- allergies which can cause skin eruptions. (For more information, choose
- "Netherton Syndrome" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Other forms of Ichthyosis include Sjogren-Larsson 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 Tay 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.
-
- Drugs derived from Vitamin A (retinoids) such as tretinoin, motretinide,
- and etretinate can be effective against skin symptoms of Tay Syndrome, but
- can cause toxic effects on the bones in some cases. A synthetic derivative
- of Vitamin A, isotretinoin (accutane), 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.
-
- Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Genetic counseling may be
- helpful for families of children with Tay Syndrome, and special education
- services may be required in school.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- 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
- Tay Syndrome. The product is manufactured by:
-
- Cellegy Pharmaceuticals
- 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 Tay 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
-
- International Tremor Foundation
- 360 W. Superior St.
- Chicago, IL 60610
- (312) 664-2344
-
- 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.; Dermatol Clin (January 1987: issue 5(1)).
- Pp. 155-178.
-
- THE TAY SYNDROME (CONGENITAL ICHTHYOSIS WITH TRICHOTHIODYSTROPHY): R.
- Happle, et al.; Eur Journal Pediatr (January 1984: issue 141(3)). Pp. 147-
- 152.
-
- 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. Pp. 1058, 1285.
-
-