eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Pediatric Diseases

Proteus Syndrome: Follow-up

Author: Matthew J Mahlberg, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Mina Yassaee, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 10, 2008

Follow-up

Complications

  • Sequelae in patients with Proteus syndrome include ambulatory difficulty due to toe macrodactyly, scoliosis, and joint instability, with frequent hip dislocations.
  • Dysregulated adipose growth can result in aggressive, infiltrating lipomas that can involve adjacent structures.
  • Pulmonary complications are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in Proteus syndrome patients.

Prognosis

  • The disease is progressive but somewhat variable in prognosis. With appropriate medical and surgical care, patients with Proteus syndrome may age normally.34 However, despite treatment efforts, Proteus syndrome may result in extreme musculoskeletal, cutaneous, and visceral deformities.18 Some patients (as many as 20%) die prematurely, usually from pulmonary embolus or pneumonia.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to correctly evaluate patients with Proteus syndrome may result in the nonidentification of neoplasia that requires surgical treatment or other disorders (eg, bone or neural diseases).
  • Failure to evaluate and manage ocular involvement in patients with Proteus syndrome can result in visual impairment.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Carlo Tolone, MD, Eleonora Ruocco, MD, and Antonio Vozza, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Proteus Syndrome

Overview: Proteus Syndrome
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Proteus Syndrome
Treatment & Medication: Proteus Syndrome
Follow-up: Proteus Syndrome
Multimedia: Proteus Syndrome
References
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References

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  14. del Rosario Barona-Mazuera M, Hidalgo-Galván LR, de la Luz Orozco-Covarrubias, Durán-McKinster C, Tamayo-Sánchez L, Ruiz-Maldonado R. Proteus syndrome: new findings in seven patients. Pediatr Dermatol. Jan-Feb 1997;14(1):1-5. [Medline].

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  33. Peters KF, Biesecker LG. An opportunity for genetic counseling intervention: Depression in parents of individuals with proteus syndrome. J Genet Couns. 2000;9:161-70.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

PS, hamartomatous disorder, multifarious mesodermal malformation, plurifocal overgrowth, partial gigantism, regional gigantism

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Matthew J Mahlberg, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine
Matthew J Mahlberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mina Yassaee, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Mina Yassaee is a member of the following medical societies: Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

William D James, MD, Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System
William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: elsevier Royalty Other; american college of physicians Honoraria Other

Medical Editor

Albert C Yan, MD, Section Chief, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania
Albert C Yan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

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.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey J Miller, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Penn State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine 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, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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