[Angiokeratoma and fucosidosis. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study]

Ann Dermatol Venereol. 1995;122(6-7):432-5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Angiokeratoma can lead to diagnoses other than Fabry's disease. We report a case of angiokeratoma in a child with fucosidosis.

Case report: A 7-year-old child with psychomotor retardation presented angiokeratoma located on the penis. Uptake of type I Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin antilectin antiserum was intense in the endothelial structure. This antibody is specific for alpha-L-fucose residues which were thus found in large quantities in the vacuoles of the ultrastructure. The patient also had a major deficiency in leukocyte, serum and fibroblast alpha-fucosidase.

Comments: This is a typical case of fucosidosis, a rare hereditary disease with autosomal recessive transmission due to generalized deficiency in alpha-L-fucosidase. Diffuse angiokeratosis should suggest, other than Fabry's disease, fucosidase and other enzyme deficiencies including sialidase, GM1 gangliosidase as well as Kanzaki's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Angiokeratoma / etiology*
  • Angiokeratoma / pathology
  • Angiokeratoma / ultrastructure
  • Child
  • Fucosidosis / complications*
  • Fucosidosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin / ultrastructure
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / ultrastructure