Dermatologic Manifestations of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome 

  • Author: Akimichi Morita, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 25, 2012
 

Background

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder originally described as a clinical triad of thrombocytopenia, eczema (atopiclike dermatitis), and recurrent pyogenic infections. Only 27% of patients have the classic triad, 20% of patients have hematologic manifestations alone, and 5% have infectious features before diagnosis. Recurrent infections result from immunodeficiency of both humoral immune responses and T-cell–mediated immune responses. The responsible gene (WASP) was identified in 1994.[1]

Other eMedicine articles on Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome include Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (Allergy and Immunology) and Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (Pediatrics).

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Pathophysiology

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome's hemorrhagic condition is due to both quantitative platelet defects and qualitative platelet defects. Thrombocytopenia is persistent. Platelets are small and fail to aggregate. Recurrent pyogenic infections are secondary to immunodeficiency of both humoral immune responses and T-cell–mediated immune responses. Eczema appears to be related to the abnormal function of the T cells.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

The prevalence of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is approximately 4 cases per 1 million births.[2]

Mortality/Morbidity

Death in childhood is common. Death usually occurs during the first decade, although survival to 18 years has been recorded.

Race

Most Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patients are white. Blacks and Asians are rarely affected.

Sex

Most Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patients are male. One case was reported in a girl.[3]

Age

Thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction can be found from birth, with dermatitis following in a few months.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Akimichi Morita, MD, PhD  Professor, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Jacek C Szepietowski, MD, PhD  Professor, Vice-Head, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University; Director of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Disclosure: Stiefel GSK Company Salary Employment; Orfagen Consulting fee Consulting; Maruho Consulting fee Consulting; Astellas Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Leo Pharma Consulting fee Consulting

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

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.

References

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  2. Perry GS 3rd, Spector BD, Schuman LM, et al. The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in the United States and Canada (1892-1979). J Pediatr. Jul 1980;97(1):72-8. [Medline].

  3. Conley ME, Wang WC, Parolini O, Shapiro DN, Campana D, Siminovitch KA. Atypical Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome in a girl. Blood. Sep 1 1992;80(5):1264-9. [Medline].

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  7. Yamada M, Ariga T, Kawamura N, et al. Determination of carrier status for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome by flow cytometric analysis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Immunol. Jul 15 2000;165(2):1119-22. [Medline].

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  10. Dupre L, Marangoni F, Scaramuzza S, et al. Efficacy of gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome using a WAS promoter/cDNA-containing lentiviral vector and nonlethal irradiation. Hum Gene Ther. Mar 2006;17(3):303-13. [Medline].

  11. Boztug K, Schmidt M, Schwarzer A, Banerjee PP, Díez IA, Dewey RA, et al. Stem-cell gene therapy for the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. N Engl J Med. Nov 11 2010;363(20):1918-27. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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  13. Syrigos KN, Makrilia N, Neidhart J, Moutsos M, Tsimpoukis S, Kiagia M, et al. Prolonged survival after splenectomy in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: a case report. Ital J Pediatr. Sep 10 2011;37:42. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  14. Cotelingam JD, Witebsky FG, Hsu SM, Blaese RM, Jaffe ES. Malignant lymphoma in patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Cancer Invest. 1985;3(6):515-22. [Medline].

  15. Filipovich AH, Mathur A, Kamat D, Kersey JH, Shapiro RS. Lymphoproliferative disorders and other tumors complicating immunodeficiencies. Immunodeficiency. 1994;5(2):91-112. [Medline].

  16. Kwan SP, Hagemann TL, Radtke BE, Blaese RM, Rosen FS. Identification of mutations in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome gene and characterization of a polymorphic dinucleotide repeat at DXS6940, adjacent to the disease gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. May 9 1995;92(10):4706-10. [Medline].

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  19. Savoy DN, Billadeau DD, Leibson PJ. Cutting edge: WIP, a binding partner for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein, cooperates with Vav in the regulation of T cell activation. J Immunol. Mar 15 2000;164(6):2866-70. [Medline].

  20. Sullivan KE, Mullen CA, Blaese RM, Winkelstein JA. A multiinstitutional survey of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. J Pediatr. Dec 1994;125(6 Pt 1):876-85. [Medline].

  21. Tsuji Y, Imai K, Kajiwara M, et al. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for 30 patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases: 20 years experience of a single team. Bone Marrow Transplant. Mar 2006;37(5):469-77. [Medline].

 
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Eczematous lesions in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. The lesion is essentially indistinguishable from that of atopic dermatitis except for the presence of purpura and petechiae.
A bloody crust can be seen on the red papules.
 
 
 
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