[Pulmonary phenotypes of inborn errors of metabolism]. / Manifestations pulmonaires des maladies héréditaires du métabolisme.

Inborn metabolic diseases or inborn errors of metabolism comprise a large number of rare and heterogeneous genetic diseases categorized in several subgroups depending on their pathophysiologic mechanisms. In this review, we focus on different metabolic diseases with respiratory symptoms in adults: lysosomal glycosphingolipidoses such as acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann-Pick types A and B disease), Gaucher, Fabry, Pompe diseases and mucopolysaccharidoses in general. We also address classical homocystinuria, which is a monogenic vascular disease, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, which is associated with disorders in the lysosomal-related-organelles, and lysinuric protein intolerance, which is due to an amino-acid transporter defect. Presentation and prognosis of these diseases are highly heterogeneous, and respiratory impairment may be central and prognostic. Many are primarily pediatric, and diagnoses are often delivered during childhood. Improved pediatric management has enabled better prognosis and new phenotype of the diseases in the adulthood. Some others can be diagnosed during adulthood. While some diseases call for specific, specialized treatment, all necessitate systematic multidisciplinary management. It is of paramount importance that a pneumologist be familiar with these phenotypes, most of which can benefit from early diagnosis and early therapeutic management with dedicated innovative treatments.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune bullous disease characterized by the presence of antitype VII collagen antibodies, leading to the formation of bullae in the dermoepidermal junction. This disease is rare in childhood. OBSERVATIONS: We report 3 new cases of EBA in children. The 3 patients were similar; all 3 children were black, with a clinical phenotype resembling linear IgA bullous disease in children and typical histologic and immunologic features of EBA. In the 3 patients, diagnosis was proven using immune electron microscopy and Western blot analysis, where antitype VII collagen antibodies were demonstrated. Patients 1 and 2 were successfully treated with a combination of prednisone and dapsone. In patient 3, the lesions healed without specific therapy. We found 11 other pediatric cases of EBA in the literature and studied those cases in addition to the cases presented herein to describe the characteristics of EBA in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is a rare disease in childhood. Mucosal involvement is frequent and severe. Because the clinical features are misleading, the use of immune electron microscopy and Western blot analysis is essential to making a diagnosis. Treatment with a combination of prednisone and dapsone is often effective. The prognosis in children is better than it is in adult patients.