Lipoid Proteinosis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Kelly M Cordoro, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 29, 2011
 

Medical Care

No cure is known. The disease follows a stable, chronic course but may fluctuate in intensity. No uniformly successful treatment is available.

  • Scattered anecdotal reports have described successful treatments, but they are not widely applicable.
    • A single case report demonstrated that continuous treatment with the chelating agent D-penicillamine produced both clinical and histological improvement.[8]
    • Another single case report demonstrated resolution of skin lesions after 3 years of continuous treatment with oral dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). However, a more recent report showed no benefit of DMSO in 3 patients at an average treatment duration of 3 years.[9]
    • Treatment with potent topical corticosteroids has also shown benefit by healing of lesions and prevention of new lesion formation in a single case report.
    • Etretinate has been shown to produce a clinical response after 3 months of treatment, but this medication is no longer available in the United States.[10]
  • Seizures, if present, may be treated with appropriate anticonvulsant medications.
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Surgical Care

  • Surgical resection of vocal cord papules has been useful in improving vocal quality. Carbon dioxide laser ablation has been used to treat vocal cord lesions.[11]
  • Dermabrasion may improve the appearance of skin lesions.
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Consultations

Lipoid proteinosis is a chronic disease that can involve many organ systems. Consultations with the appropriate specialists, depending on the system involved, are indicated.

  • Pediatricians should follow patients for routine health issues and for developmental, emotional, and cognitive progress.
  • A neurologist should assess and manage seizures.
  • Dermatologists can aid in diagnostic confirmation with assessment of clinical features and appropriate biopsies. Scar revision may be possible with dermabrasion, laser therapy, and other specialized techniques.
  • Otorhinolaryngologists can assess airway and vocal cord involvement and can plan surgical intervention as indicated.
  • Geneticists can review the family history and provide reproductive counseling.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kelly M Cordoro, MD  Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Pediatrics, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

Kelly M Cordoro, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Dermatology, Dermatology Foundation, Medical Society of Virginia, National Psoriasis Foundation, Society for Pediatric Dermatology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Michael F Osleber  University of Virginia School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Vincent A De Leo, MD  Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University; Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Director of Dermatology Residency Training Program, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center; Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Beth Israel Medical Center

Vincent A De Leo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Contact Dermatitis Society, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Photobiology, Dermatology Foundation, New York Academy of Medicine, New York County Medical Society, Photomedicine Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Society of Toxicology, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: estee lauder Consulting fee Consulting; laroche posay Consulting fee Consulting; schering plough Consulting fee Consulting; pfizer Consulting fee Consulting; orfagen Grant/research funds study - clinical

Specialty Editor Board

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC  Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, University of Toronto

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lester F Libow, MD  Dermatopathologist, South Texas Dermatopathology Laboratory

Lester F Libow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous coauthor, Joseph J. Shaffer, MBBS, to the development and writing of this article.

References

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Characteristic beaded papules on the eyelid (moniliform blepharosis). Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Waxy, yellow skin thickening and atrophic scarring. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Beaded papules on the upper labial mucosa. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Woody induration and depression of the tongue. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Waxy, infiltrated, yellowish skin with depressed, atrophic scarring. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Waxy skin with atrophic, depressed scars on the forehead. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Infiltrated, thickened skin with atrophic and hyperpigmented scarring in 2 brothers with lipoid proteinosis. Note the tongues, which are firm and woody, ulcerated, and unable to be completely protruded because of infiltration of the frenulum. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
Adult male with lipoid proteinosis. His leonine facies appearance is a result of diffuse skin infiltration. Courtesy of Kenneth E. Greer, MD.
 
 
 
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