Clinical Description
Hyaline fibromatosis syndrome (HFS), named for the characteristic hyaline deposits in the papillary dermis and other tissues including the gastrointestinal tract of affected individuals, exhibits a broad spectrum of clinical severity [Casas-Alba et al 2018, Cozma et al 2019]. Individuals may present at birth or in infancy with severe pain with movement, progressive joint contractures, skin that is firm to palpation, and characteristic hyperpigmented macules/patches over bony prominences of the joints, especially the ankles, wrists, and metacarpal-phalangeal joints [Shieh et al 2006, El-Kamah & Mostafa 2009, Hammoudah & El-Attar 2016, Schussler et al 2018]. Severely affected children can die in the first years of life, possibly from gastrointestinal involvement. Some individuals demonstrate a milder phenotype, which may be of later onset. Adults with significant symptoms have also been reported.
To date, at least 93 individuals have been identified with a pathogenic variant in ANTXR2 [Cozma et al 2019, Härter et al 2020]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports.
Table 2.
Features of Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome
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Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment 1 |
---|
Skin nodules
| >80% | Can be diagnostic |
Hyperpigmented skin over bony prominences, thickened skin
| Common | Can be diagnostic |
Contractures
| ~60% | Variable depending on severity |
Gingival enlargement
| 93% | |
Protein-losing enteropathy
| Unknown | Diarrhea, reported in >50%, is likely more common than reported. |
Immunodeficiency
| ~33% | Variable; may be underreported. |
- 1.
Presence of findings may be age dependent.
Skin nodules and other manifestations. Skin nodules and white-to-pink pearly papules that are a few millimeters in size are common on the face and neck. Fleshy lesions may appear in the perianal region. These lesions appear to develop and become more numerous over time. The skin is firm to palpation and has been described as thickened. Excessive diaphoresis is common.
Hyperpigmented skin over bony prominences. Characteristic purplish patches develop over the medial and lateral malleoli of the ankles, the metacarpophalangeal joints, spine, and elbows. The degree of hyperpigmentation varies depending on the baseline pigmentation of the skin [Arbour et al 2001].
Progressive contractures. Affected individuals can present with congenital contractures. Some mothers report deficient fetal activity during the pregnancy of the affected infant, and many parents note decreased passive and/or active movement of the extremities of their child. Contractures are progressive, and extremities become fixed with the hips and knees flexed and the ankles dorsiflexed. The elbows exhibit flexion contractures, and the wrists are typically positioned in extension with flexion contractures of the proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints. Some individuals demonstrate milder features [Shieh et al 2006].
Pain or excessive crying. Severe pain with passive movement in infancy or early childhood is characteristic. Pathogenesis is unclear.
Failure to thrive. Postnatal-onset growth deficiency is common. Villous atrophy, edema, and lymphangiectasia of the intestine can lead to malabsorption. Some children develop severe intractable protein-losing diarrhea, likely due to hyalinosis of the intestine. The clinical progression of severe cases has been delayed with regular gastrointestinal evaluation and nutritional support [Shieh, unpublished].
Gingival manifestations. The gingivae are thickened. Affected individuals develop masses in the gingiva, which enlarge over time. Lesions that obstruct the airway or interfere with oral intake are particularly problematic. Lesions may recur after surgical excision.
Dental abnormalities include malpositioned teeth, curved dental roots, or other dental abnormalities.
Characteristic facies. A depressed nasal bridge, variable ear malformations (large, simple, or low-set ears; preauricular skin tags), and a slightly coarse facial appearance may be present.
Other
Cognitive function is preserved; however, individuals with delayed development have been reported [
Nischal et al 2004].
Hepatomegaly may be present.
Susceptibility to fractures may be increased.
Recurrent infections may develop due to impaired cellular immune responses and reduced immunoglobulin levels [
Klebanova & Schwindt 2009].
At least two clinically diagnosed individuals developed squamous cell carcinoma [
Kawasaki et al 2001,
Shimizu et al 2005] and an adult has been reported with colon cancer. The
ANTXR2 mutation status in these individuals is unknown.
Cardiovascular involvement is largely unknown. One instance of atrial thrombus has been reported.
Prognosis
Individuals with severe disease can succumb to infection or complications of protein-losing enteropathy.
Some individuals demonstrate a milder phenotype, which may be of later onset with potential survival into adulthood.
A clinical grading system for HFS has been proposed [
Denadai et al 2012] with grades from mild to severe/lethal. All grades have skin and/or gingival involvement, while increasing grades have joint and/or bone and internal organ involvement. Sepsis or organ failure is associated with the most severe forms.
Milder phenotype. Although joint contractures, skin hyperpigmentation, and skin lesions occur with the milder phenotype, the presentation is variable and disability may be less pronounced. Pain is less severe and may decrease with age. Short stature, limb shortening, and brachydactyly may be present. Intractable diarrhea is rare in milder forms of the disorder.
Pathology. Myopathic changes on muscle biopsy may be evident [Zolkipli et al 2003]. Only a few postmortem examinations have been reported. Hyaline deposition has been documented in the dermis, the small and large intestine, skeletal muscle, lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, thyroid, adrenals, and myocardium. Interstitial parenchymal fibrosis of the pancreas, skeletal muscle, lung, and liver was observed [Criado et al 2004].