National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa



Other Names:
Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, severe generalized; RDEB, severe generalized; RDEB-sev gen; Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, severe generalized; RDEB, severe generalized; RDEB-sev gen; Autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, Hallopeau-Siemens type (formerly); Autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa generalisata gravis; Autosomal recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, Hallopeau-Siemens type; RDEB generalisata gravis; RDEB, Hallopeau-Siemens type; Severe generalized RDEB See More
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:
Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa; Epidermolysis bullosa; Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is the most severe types of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. The signs and symptoms of this condition involve widespread blistering that can lead to vision loss, disfigurement, and other serious medical problems. As the blisters heal, they result in severe scarring. Scarring in the mouth and esophagus can make it difficult to eat food, leading to poor nutrition and slow growth. Additionally, individuals with this condition have a very high risk of developing a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, which tends to be unusually aggressive and is often life-threatening. Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.[1] There is no cure for this condition and treatment is aimed at preventing blisters from forming and managing symptoms.[2]

Last updated: 2/5/2014

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal blistering of the skin
Blistering, generalized
Blisters
[ more ]
0008066
Abnormality of the anus 0004378
Absent fingernail 0001817
Absent toenail 0001802
Ankyloglossia
Tongue tied
0010296
Carious teeth
Dental cavities
Tooth cavities
Tooth decay
[ more ]
0000670
Constipation 0002019
Dermal atrophy
Skin degeneration
0004334
Dysphagia
Poor swallowing
Swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulty
[ more ]
0002015
Esophageal stricture
Narrowing of esophagus due to inflammation and scar tissue
0002043
Milia
Milk spot
0001056
Narrow mouth
Small mouth
0000160
Pruritus
Itching
Itchy skin
Skin itching
[ more ]
0000989
Refractory anemia 0005505
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin 0006739
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Blepharitis
Inflammation of eyelids
0000498
Corneal erosion
Damage to outer layer of the cornea of the eye
0200020
Delayed puberty
Delayed pubertal development
Delayed pubertal growth
Pubertal delay
[ more ]
0000823
Ectropion
Eyelid turned out
0000656
Flexion contracture
Flexed joint that cannot be straightened
0001371
Loss of eyelashes
Eyelashes fell out
Missing eyelashes
[ more ]
0011457
Mitten deformity 0004057
Osteopenia 0000938
Osteoporosis 0000939
Progressive visual loss
Progressive loss of vision
Progressive vision loss
Progressive visual impairment
Slowly progressive visual loss
Vision loss, progressive
Visual loss, progressive
[ more ]
0000529
Scarring alopecia of scalp 0004552
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Stretched and thinned heart muscle
0001644
Hypoalbuminemia
Low blood albumin
0003073
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Alopecia
Hair loss
0001596
Anemia
Low number of red blood cells or hemoglobin
0001903
Atrophic scars
Sunken or indented skin due to damage
0001075
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Cataract
Clouding of the lens of the eye
Cloudy lens
[ more ]
0000518
Congenital onset
Symptoms present at birth
0003577
Conjunctivitis
Pink eye
0000509
Corneal scarring 0000559
Fragile skin
Skin fragility
0001030
Growth delay
Delayed growth
Growth deficiency
Growth failure
Growth retardation
Poor growth
Retarded growth
[ more ]
0001510
Hypoplasia of dental enamel
Underdeveloped teeth enamel
0006297
Malnutrition 0004395
Nail dysplasia
Atypical nail growth
0002164
Nail dystrophy
Poor nail formation
0008404
Spontaneous esophageal perforation 0005203
Squamous cell carcinoma 0002860
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
The differential diagnosis includes other forms of EB. In the neonatal period also herpes simplex infection, congenital erosive and vesicular dermatosis, epidermolytic ichthyosis, bullous pemphigoid, neonatal pemphigus and pemphigoid gestationis, and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (see these terms) may need to be considered.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa:
    EBCare Registry
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Social Networking Websites

  • RareConnect is an online social network for patients and families to connect with one another and share their experience living with a rare disease. The project is a joint collaboration between EURORDIS (European Rare Disease Organisation) and NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Click on the link above to view the community for Epidermolysis bullosa.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Severe generalized recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Genetics Home Refernce. January 2008; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/dystrophic-epidermolysis-bullosa. Accessed 1/31/2014.
  2. A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Medline Plus. November 20, 2012; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001457.htm. Accessed 1/31/2014.