Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa--poor prognosis associated with chronic renal failure

Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa (GABEB) is an autosomal recessive form of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, with milder clinical features than the Herlitz subtype. A 25-year-old man presented with the clinical and histological findings of GABEB. At the initial visit, laboratory tests revealed that he also had chronic renal failure (CRF). Usually, GABEB has a good prognosis. However, in this case, the patient had CRF as an associated complication. He died of an intracranial haemorrhage combined with sepsis after 3 weeks of hospitalization. This case suggests that renal complications can occur in this relatively mild form of epidermolysis bullosa, and may contribute to morbidity and premature mortality.