Prenatal ultrasound findings of ectodermal dysplasia: a case report

Botanical extract combined with minoxidil improve hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia caused by p.G11R mutations: a case report

PURPOSE

We aim to explore a potential treatment strategy for hair loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A male 6-year-old child was diagnosed with hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia 2 (HED2) caused by GJB6 (p.G11R) mutations. He presented at our clinic with diffuse thinning and fine and brittle hair since birth. Additionally, the child exhibited abnormal development of teeth, fingernails, and toenails. The condition of the child's hair had not improved significantly with age. He was treated with botanical extracts combined with Minoxidil.

RESULTS

After one and a half months of treatment, the patient showed remarkable hair growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Our team has previously used botanical extracts in combination for the treatment of autosomal recessive wooly hair in children. In the present case, treatment with botanical extract combined with minoxidil was found to be equally efficacious. This case report provides valuable information for future studies on the use of botanical extracts in treating hair loss, as well as a safe and effective potential treatment strategy for children with congenital alopecia.

Extended Overview of Ocular Phenotype with Recent Advances in Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia

The term ectodermal dysplasias (EDs) describes a heterogeneous group of inherited developmental disorders that affect several tissues of ectodermal origin. The most common form of EDs is hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), which is characterized by hypodontia, hypotrichosis, and partial or total eccrine sweat gland deficiency. HED is estimated to affect at least 1 in 17,000 people worldwide. Patients with HED have characteristic facies with periorbital hyperpigmentation, depressed nasal bridge, malar hypoplasia, and absent or sparse eyebrows and eyelashes. The common ocular features of HED include madarosis, trichiasis, and ocular chronic surface disease due to dry eye syndrome, which manifests clinically with discomfort, photophobia, and redness. Dry eye is common in HED and results from a combination of ocular surface defects: mucus abnormalities (abnormal conjunctival mucinous glands), aqueous tear deficiency (abnormalities in the lacrimal gland) and lipid deficiency (due to the partial or total absence of the meibomian glands; modified sebaceous glands with the tarsal plate). Sight-threatening complications result from ocular surface disease, including corneal ulceration and perforation with subsequent corneal scarring and neovascularization. Rare ocular features have been reported and include bilateral or unilateral congenital cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, chorioretinal atrophy and atresia of the nasolacrimal duct. Recognition of the ocular manifestations of HED is required to perform clinical surveillance, instigate supportive and preventative treatment, and manage ocular complications.

Ectodysplasin A (EDA) Signaling: From Skin Appendage to Multiple Diseases

Ectodysplasin A (EDA) signaling is initially identified as morphogenic signaling regulating the formation of skin appendages including teeth, hair follicles, exocrine glands in mammals, feathers in birds and scales in fish. Gene mutation in EDA signaling causes hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), a congenital hereditary disease with malformation of skin appendages. Interestingly, emerging evidence suggests that EDA and its receptors can modulate the proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and migration of cancer cells, and thus may regulate tumorigenesis and cancer progression. More recently, as a newly discovered hepatocyte factor, EDA pathway has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type II diabetes by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. In this review, we summarize the function of EDA signaling from skin appendage development to multiple other diseases, and discuss the clinical application of recombinant EDA protein as well as other potential targets for disease intervention.