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

Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma



Other Names:
Ichthyosiform erythroderma, congenital, nonbullous, 1; NCIE; Ichthyosiform erythroderma, Brocq congenital, nonbullous form; Ichthyosiform erythroderma, congenital, nonbullous, 1; NCIE; Ichthyosiform erythroderma, Brocq congenital, nonbullous form; Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma; CIE; NBCIE; Congenital non-bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma; Erythrodermic ichthyosis; Non-bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma See More
Categories:

Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NBCIE) is a specific type of ichthyosis mainly affecting the skin. Most infants with NBCIE are born with a tight, shiny covering on their skin, called a collodion membrane, which is typically shed within a few weeks. Other signs and symptoms include redness of the skin (erythroderma); fine, white scales on the skin; and thickening of the skin on the palms and soles of feet (palmoplantar keratoderma). Some people with NBCIE also have outward turning eyelids (ectropion); outward turning lips (eclabium); and nails that do not grow normally (nail dystrophy). NBCIE may be caused by mutations in any one of at least three genes: ALOX12BALOXE3 or NIPAL4. In some people with NBCIE, the cause of the disorder is unknown.[1][2]
Last updated: 10/7/2011

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
Ectropion
Eyelid turned out
0000656
Erythroderma 0001019
Hypohidrosis
Decreased ability to sweat
Sweating, decreased
Decreased sweating
[ more ]
0000966
Ichthyosis 0008064
Pruritus
Itching
Itchy skin
Skin itching
[ more ]
0000989
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the nail 0001597
Alopecia
Hair loss
0001596
Corneal erosion
Damage to outer layer of the cornea of the eye
0200020
Failure to thrive
Faltering weight
Weight faltering
[ more ]
0001508
Hearing impairment
Deafness
Hearing defect
[ more ]
0000365
Keratitis
Corneal inflammation
0000491
Palmoplantar keratoderma
Thickening of palms and soles
0000982
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Erythema 0010783
Everted lower lip vermilion
Drooping lower lip
Outward turned lower lip
[ more ]
0000232
Short finger
Stubby finger
0009381
Short stature
Decreased body height
Small stature
[ more ]
0004322
Short toe
Short toes
Stubby toes
[ more ]
0001831
Small nail
Small nails
0001792
Thin nail
Thin nails
0001816
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormal hair morphology
Abnormality of the hair
Hair abnormality
[ more ]
0001595
Autosomal recessive inheritance 0000007
Congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma 0007431
Congenital nonbullous ichthyosiform erythroderma 0007479
Epidermal acanthosis
Thickening of upper layer of skin
0025092
External genital hypoplasia
Underdevelopment of external reproductive organs
0003241
Growth delay
Delayed growth
Growth deficiency
Growth failure
Growth retardation
Poor growth
Retarded growth
[ more ]
0001510
Hypergranulosis 0025114
Intellectual disability
Mental deficiency
Mental retardation
Mental retardation, nonspecific
Mental-retardation
[ more ]
0001249
Paralysis
Inability to move
0003470
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

There is currently no cure for nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NBCIE). Treatment generally focuses on managing the specific signs and symptoms each individual has. For newborns, the most important goals are to provide a moist environment in an isolette, and to prevent and treat infections. Petrolatum-based creams and ointments are typically used to keep the skin soft and hydrated. As children age, keratolytic agents (agents that help the skin loosen and shed) such as alpha-hydroxy acid or urea preparations can be used to promote the peeling and thinning of the outer layer of the skin. For individuals with severe skin involvement, oral retinoid therapy may be recommended. However, because this is known to cause abnormalities in a developing fetus, it should be used with caution in women of child-bearing age. In general, any agents that irritate the skin should be avoided. Ectropion (turning out of the eyelid) can cause dryness of the cornea (especially at night), so artificial tears or prescription ointments may be used to keep the cornea moist.[2]

ClinicalTrials.gov provides access to information on clinical studies (including therapies) for different types of ichthyosis. To view a list of the studies currently listed, click here.
Last updated: 10/7/2011

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
At birth, differential diagnoses include other causes of neonatal erythroderma (e.g. congenital immunodeficiencies). Later in life, differential diagnosis includes syndromic forms of icthyosis, harlequin ichthyosis, lamellar ichthyosis, congenital reticular ichthyosiform erythroderma, and peeling skin syndrome (see these terms).
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 Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. 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 Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. 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 Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma:
    The National Registry for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Disorders
     

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


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 Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • DermNetNZ provides information on ichthyosis in general. DermNetNZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated.

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.
  • 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 Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. 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. Submit a new question

  • I have congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma since birth. I want to know if there is any treatment because I am really looking to get treatment for this disease. See answer



  1. Nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma. Genetics Home Reference. August 2010; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/nonbullous-congenital-ichthyosiform-erythroderma. Accessed 10/7/2011.
  2. Sherri J Bale, Gabriele Richard. Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis. GeneReviews. November 19, 2009; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1420/. Accessed 10/7/2011.