Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by mutations in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene. It is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), periodontopathy, intracranial calcifications, and recurrent pyogenic infections. We encountered an Emirat...

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Main Authors: Fatima AlQaydi, Mohamed Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: QAASPA Publisher 2025-06-01
Series:BioMed Target Journal
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Online Access:https://qaaspa.com/index.php/bmtj/article/view/86
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author Fatima AlQaydi
Mohamed Ahmed
author_facet Fatima AlQaydi
Mohamed Ahmed
author_sort Fatima AlQaydi
collection DOAJ
description Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by mutations in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene. It is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), periodontopathy, intracranial calcifications, and recurrent pyogenic infections. We encountered an Emirati family in which two siblings were diagnosed with PLS. A 7-year-old male was brought to our clinic with dry, scaly plaques on the palms and soles, first noted at the age of one month. Examination revealed well-defined, psoriasiform, erythematous keratotic plaques on the soles, elbows, and knees bilaterally. An infected boil was noted on his right arm. Periodontologists routinely followed the patient due to severe periodontitis, multiple dental caries, and premature loss of deciduous teeth. Radiographic imaging of the skull revealed intracranial calcifications. His developmental history was notable for learning difficulties. His 5-year-old brother also showed PPK and similar dental abnormalities. Both children were born to first-cousin consanguineous parents. Initially misdiagnosed as plaque psoriasis. He was treated with topical corticosteroids and keratolytics (salicylic acid and urea), with no improvement. Methotrexate (0.5 mg/kg/week) was given for three months, resulting only in transient improvement. The condition relapsed shortly after cessation. Oral acitretin (0.5 mg/kg/day) was then initiated, resulting in the complete clearance of hyperkeratosis after five months, with no adverse effects. Genetic analysis revealed a homozygous deletion of exons 3 to 7 in the CTSC gene, a rare variant linked to PLS and reported for the first time in the testing laboratory’s internal database.
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spelling doaj-art-9b5e7b5c2b0341389d91d0f9ed67c68a2025-08-20T02:37:14ZengQAASPA PublisherBioMed Target Journal2960-14282025-06-01319710110.59786/bmtj.32086Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case ReportFatima AlQaydi0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1767-0954Mohamed Ahmed1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1767-0954Dermatology Center, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, PO Box 4545, United Arab Emirates Dermatology Center, Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, PO Box 4545, United Arab Emirates Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis caused by mutations in the cathepsin C (CTSC) gene. It is characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK), periodontopathy, intracranial calcifications, and recurrent pyogenic infections. We encountered an Emirati family in which two siblings were diagnosed with PLS. A 7-year-old male was brought to our clinic with dry, scaly plaques on the palms and soles, first noted at the age of one month. Examination revealed well-defined, psoriasiform, erythematous keratotic plaques on the soles, elbows, and knees bilaterally. An infected boil was noted on his right arm. Periodontologists routinely followed the patient due to severe periodontitis, multiple dental caries, and premature loss of deciduous teeth. Radiographic imaging of the skull revealed intracranial calcifications. His developmental history was notable for learning difficulties. His 5-year-old brother also showed PPK and similar dental abnormalities. Both children were born to first-cousin consanguineous parents. Initially misdiagnosed as plaque psoriasis. He was treated with topical corticosteroids and keratolytics (salicylic acid and urea), with no improvement. Methotrexate (0.5 mg/kg/week) was given for three months, resulting only in transient improvement. The condition relapsed shortly after cessation. Oral acitretin (0.5 mg/kg/day) was then initiated, resulting in the complete clearance of hyperkeratosis after five months, with no adverse effects. Genetic analysis revealed a homozygous deletion of exons 3 to 7 in the CTSC gene, a rare variant linked to PLS and reported for the first time in the testing laboratory’s internal database.https://qaaspa.com/index.php/bmtj/article/view/86papillon-lefevre syndromepalmar-plantar hyperkeratosisperiodontitiscathepsin c genegenodermatosispalmoplantar keratoderma with periodontitis
spellingShingle Fatima AlQaydi
Mohamed Ahmed
Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
BioMed Target Journal
papillon-lefevre syndrome
palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis
periodontitis
cathepsin c gene
genodermatosis
palmoplantar keratoderma with periodontitis
title Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
title_full Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
title_fullStr Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
title_short Rare Homozygous CTSC Deletion in Siblings with Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: A Case Report
title_sort rare homozygous ctsc deletion in siblings with papillon lefevre syndrome a case report
topic papillon-lefevre syndrome
palmar-plantar hyperkeratosis
periodontitis
cathepsin c gene
genodermatosis
palmoplantar keratoderma with periodontitis
url https://qaaspa.com/index.php/bmtj/article/view/86
work_keys_str_mv AT fatimaalqaydi rarehomozygousctscdeletioninsiblingswithpapillonlefevresyndromeacasereport
AT mohamedahmed rarehomozygousctscdeletioninsiblingswithpapillonlefevresyndromeacasereport