Open AccessDyskeratosis congenita in a Nigerian boy
Author(s) -
Ibrahim Aliyu,
Halima Kabir
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
nigerian medical journal/nigerian medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2229-774X
pISSN - 0300-1652
DOI - 10.4103/0300-1652.129667
Subject(s) - dyskeratosis congenita , pancytopenia , medicine , leukoplakia , dermatology , hyperpigmentation , skin hyperpigmentation , bone marrow , biopsy , tongue , bone marrow failure , pathology , stem cell , biology , dna , genetics , cancer , telomere , haematopoiesis
Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare hereditary disease. It mainly affects males and manifest between 5 years and 12 years. Its classic manifestation consists of skin pigmentary changes, nail dystrophy, oral leukoplakia, bone marrow failure and predisposition to malignany. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with hyperpigmentation of the skin, palms and soles, leukoplakia of the tongue, dystrophy of the nails, epiphoria and recurrent epistaxis with gum bleeding. Full blood count showed pancytopenia and bone marrow biopsy showed hypocellular marrow with no abnormal cells. He was transfused with pack red blood cells, platelets concentrate and was commenced on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and anabolic steroid. He is currently on follow-up in the paediatric clinic.