EC Paediatrics

Introduction and Objective: Inherited ichthyosis constitutes a heterogeneous group of cornification disorders. Its healthcare management is a challenge for most specialists doctors in dermatology. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of patients suffering from inherited ichthyosis, and to identify the different factors associated with this deficiency.

Methodology: This was a cross sectional study performed in the University Hospital center at the dermatology department among two groups: patients with inherited ichthyosis and patients without this disease. Patients’ clinical characteristics were collected. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was determined among the two groups. Comparisons between the two groups conducted by bivariate analysis.

Results: A total of 46 patients were included in the study. The majority (84.8%) had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D below the optimal level of 30 ng/mL. Among patients with inherited ichthyosis, 56.5% had a lamellar form, 39.1% had a vulgaris form and 01 case had netherton disease. The mean of serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was lower at in patients with inherited ichthyosis 18.24 ± 10 ng/mL in comparison with control group 22.0 ± 15.0, (p = 0.19). The vulgaris ichthyosis form was mainly associated to ectropion (p = 0,02) and thick dander scales (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The measure of vitamin D among patients with inherited ichthyosis was suboptimal. A supplementation in vitamin D is strongly recommended to this category of patients either severe ichthyosis or lamellar ichthyosis.

Keywords: Inherited Ichthyosis; Vitamin D

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