Skip navigation
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/congenital-hemidysplasia-with-ichthyosiform-erythroderma-and-limb-defects/

Congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects

Description

Congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects, more commonly known by the acronym CHILD syndrome, is a condition that affects the development of several parts of the body. The signs and symptoms of this disorder are typically limited to either the right side or the left side of the body. ("Hemi-" means "half," and "dysplasia" refers to abnormal growth.) The right side is affected about twice as often as the left side.

People with CHILD syndrome have a skin condition characterized by large patches of skin that are red and inflamed (erythroderma) and covered with flaky scales (ichthyosis). This condition is most likely to occur in skin folds and creases and usually does not affect the face. The skin abnormalities are present at birth and persist throughout life.

CHILD syndrome also disrupts the formation of the arms and legs during early development. Children with this disorder may be born with one or more limbs that are shortened or missing. The limb abnormalities occur on the same side of the body as the skin abnormalities.

Additionally, CHILD syndrome may affect the development of the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Frequency

CHILD syndrome is a rare disorder; it has been reported in about 60 people worldwide. This condition occurs almost exclusively in females.

Causes

Mutations in the NSDHL gene cause CHILD syndrome. This gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that is involved in the production of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced in the body and obtained from foods that come from animals, particularly egg yolks, meat, fish, and dairy products. Although high cholesterol levels are a well-known risk factor for heart disease, the body needs some cholesterol to develop and function normally both before and after birth. Cholesterol is an important component of cell membranes and the protective substance covering nerve cells (myelin). Additionally, cholesterol plays a role in the production of certain hormones and digestive acids.

The mutations that underlie CHILD syndrome eliminate the activity of the NSDHL enzyme, which disrupts the normal production of cholesterol within cells. A shortage of this enzyme may also allow potentially toxic byproducts of cholesterol production to build up in the body's tissues. Researchers suspect that low cholesterol levels and/or an accumulation of other substances disrupt the growth and development of many parts of the body. It is not known, however, how a disturbance in cholesterol production leads to the specific features of CHILD syndrome.

Inheritance

This condition has an X-linked dominant pattern of inheritance. A condition is considered X-linked if the mutated gene that causes the disorder is located on the X chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes. The inheritance is dominant if one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the condition.

Most cases of CHILD syndrome occur sporadically, which means only one member of a family is affected. Rarely, the condition can run in families and is passed from mother to daughter. Researchers believe that CHILD syndrome occurs almost exclusively in females because affected males die before birth. Only one male with CHILD syndrome has been reported.

Other Names for This Condition

  • CHILD syndrome
  • Ichthyosiform erythroderma, unilateral, with ipsilateral malformations, especially absence deformity of limbs

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Bittar M, Happle R, Grzeschik KH, Leveleki L, Hertl M, Bornholdt D, Konig A. CHILD syndrome in 3 generations: the importance of mild or minimal skin lesions. Arch Dermatol. 2006 Mar;142(3):348-51. doi: 10.1001/archderm.142.3.348. Citation on PubMed
  • Herman GE. Disorders of cholesterol biosynthesis: prototypic metabolic malformation syndromes. Hum Mol Genet. 2003 Apr 1;12 Spec No 1:R75-88. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddg072. Citation on PubMed
  • Hummel M, Cunningham D, Mullett CJ, Kelley RI, Herman GE. Left-sided CHILD syndrome caused by a nonsense mutation in the NSDHL gene. Am J Med Genet A. 2003 Oct 15;122A(3):246-51. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.20248. Citation on PubMed
  • Kaminska-Winciorek G, Brzezinska-Wcislo L, Jezela-Stanek A, Krajewska-Walasek M, Cunningham D, Herman GE. CHILD syndrome: clinical picture and diagnostic procedures. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007 May;21(5):715-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2006.02015.x. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed
  • Kim CA, Konig A, Bertola DR, Albano LM, Gattas GJ, Bornholdt D, Leveleki L, Happle R, Grzeschik KH. CHILD syndrome caused by a deletion of exons 6-8 of the NSDHL gene. Dermatology. 2005;211(2):155-8. doi: 10.1159/000086448. Citation on PubMed
  • Konig A, Happle R, Bornholdt D, Engel H, Grzeschik KH. Mutations in the NSDHL gene, encoding a 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cause CHILD syndrome. Am J Med Genet. 2000 Feb 14;90(4):339-46. Citation on PubMed
  • Konig A, Happle R, Fink-Puches R, Soyer HP, Bornholdt D, Engel H, Grzeschik KH. A novel missense mutation of NSDHL in an unusual case of CHILD syndrome showing bilateral, almost symmetric involvement. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Apr;46(4):594-6. doi: 10.1067/mjd.2002.113680. Citation on PubMed
  • Porter FD. Human malformation syndromes due to inborn errors of cholesterol synthesis. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2003 Dec;15(6):607-13. doi: 10.1097/00008480-200312000-00011. Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.