Werner syndrome is characterized by the premature appearance of features associated with normal aging and cancer predisposition. Individuals with Werner syndrome develop normally until the end of the first decade. The first sign is the lack of a growth spurt during the early teen years. Early findings (usually observed in the 20s) include loss and graying of hair, hoarseness, and scleroderma-like skin changes, followed by bilateral ocular cataracts, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, skin ulcers, and osteoporosis in the 30s. Myocardial infarction and cancer are the most common causes of death; the mean age of death in individuals with Werner syndrome is 54 years.

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is characterized by fragility of the skin and mucous membranes, manifest by blistering with little or no trauma. Blistering may be severe and granulation tissue can form on the skin around the oral and nasal cavities, fingers and toes, and internally around the upper airway. Blisters generally heal with no significant scarring. Broad classification of JEB includes JEB generalized severe and JEB generalized intermediate. In JEB generalized severe, blisters are present at birth or become apparent in the neonatal period. Congenital malformations of the urinary tract and bladder may also occur. In JEB generalized intermediate, the phenotype may be mild with blistering localized to hands, feet, knees, and elbows with or without renal or ureteral involvement. Some individuals never blister after the newborn period. Additional features shared by JEB and the other major forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) include congenital localized absence of skin (aplasia cutis congenita), milia, nail dystrophy, scarring alopecia, hypotrichosis, pseudosyndactyly, and other contractures.

Odontoonychodermal dysplasia (OODD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by dry hair, severe hypodontia, smooth tongue with marked reduction of fungiform and filiform papillae, onychodysplasia, hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, hypo- and hyperhidrosis of the skin, and atrophic patches on the face (summary by Adaimy et al., 2007; Yu et al., 2019).

Poikiloderma with neutropenia (PN) is characterized by an inflammatory eczematous rash (ages 6-12 months) followed by post-inflammatory poikiloderma (age >2 years) and chronic noncyclic neutropenia typically associated with recurrent sinopulmonary infections in the first two years of life and (often) bronchiectasis. There is increased risk for myelodysplastic syndrome and, rarely, acute myelogenous leukemia. Other ectodermal findings include nail dystrophy and palmar/plantar hyperkeratosis. Most affected individuals also have reactive airway disease and some have short stature, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, midfacial retrusion, calcinosis cutis, and non-healing skin ulcers.

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is characterized by hypertrophic nail dystrophy, painful palmoplantar keratoderma and blistering, oral leukokeratosis, pilosebaceous cysts (including steatocystoma and vellus hair cysts), palmoplantar hyperhydrosis, and follicular keratoses on the trunk and extremities.

Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is characterized by hypertrophic nail dystrophy, painful palmoplantar keratoderma and blistering, oral leukokeratosis, pilosebaceous cysts (including steatocystoma and vellus hair cysts), palmoplantar hyperhydrosis, and follicular keratoses on the trunk and extremities.

Autosomal recessive generalized intermediate epidermolysis bullosa simplex 5D (EBS5D) is characterized by generalized skin blistering that heals with scarring and hyperpigmentation. Nail dystrophy is severe. Mucous membranes, heart, and muscle are spared (Gostynska et al., 2015). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of the subtypes of EBS, see EBS1A (131760).

Palmoplantar keratoderma and congenital alopecia-1 (PPKCA1) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by severe hyperkeratosis and congenital alopecia. Nail changes occur in some patients (summary by Castori et al., 2010). Also see PPKCA2 (212360), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital alopecia and progressive hyperkeratosis resulting in sclerodactyly, severe contractures and tapering of the digits, and pseudoainhum formation.

Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma-1 (EPPK1) is an autosomal dominant skin disorder characterized clinically by diffuse, yellow thickening of the skin of the palms and soles. There is no extension of the keratoderma to dorsal surfaces of hands and feet, inner wrists, and Achilles tendon area (transgrediens). Knuckle pads may be present in some individuals (summary by Kuster et al., 2002, Chiu et al., 2007). Genetic Heterogeneity of Epidermolytic Palmoplantar Keratoderma Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma-2 (EPPK2; 620411) is caused by mutation in the keratin-1 gene (KRT1; 139350) on chromosome 12q13. Classification of Palmoplantar Keratoderma PPK has been classified into diffuse, focal, and punctate forms according to the pattern of hyperkeratosis on the palms and soles (Lucker et al., 1994). Diffuse PPK develops at birth or shortly thereafter and involves the entire palm and sole with a sharp cutoff at an erythematous border; there are no lesions outside the volar skin, and, in particular, no follicular or oral lesions. In contrast, focal PPK is a late-onset form in which focal hyperkeratotic lesions develop in response to mechanical trauma; an important distinguishing feature is the presence of lesions at other body sites, e.g., oral and follicular hyperkeratosis (Stevens et al., 1996). Palmoplantar keratodermas can be further subdivided histologically into epidermolytic and nonepidermolytic PPK (Risk et al., 1994). Genetic Heterogeneity of Palmoplantar Keratoderma Nonepidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (NEPPK; 600962) is caused by mutation in the KRT1 gene. A focal form of NEPPK (FNEPPK1; 613000) is caused by mutation in the KRT16 gene (148067). Another focal form, FNEPPK2 (616400), is caused by mutation in the TRPV3 gene (607066); mutation in TRPV3 can also cause Olmsted syndrome (OLMS; 614594), a severe mutilating form of PPK. The diffuse Bothnian form of NEPPK (PPKB; 600231) is caused by mutation in the AQP5 gene (600442). The Nagashima type of nonepidermolytic diffuse PPK (PPKN; 615598) is caused by mutation in the SERPINB7 gene (603357). A generalized form of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK; 113800), also designated bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (BCIE), is caused by mutation in the keratin genes KRT1 and KRT10 (148080). For a discussion of punctate PPK, see 148600; for a discussion of striate PPK, see 148700.