Identification of novel and known KRT5 and KRT14 mutations in 53 patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex: correlation between genotype and phenotype

Basal epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary skin blistering disorder resulting in most cases from missense mutations in the keratin 5 (KRT5) or keratin 14 (KRT14) genes.

To identify the underlying mutations in different EBS subtypes and correlate genotype and phenotype.

Mutation analysis was performed in 53 patients with EBS and their families by direct sequencing of the KRT5 and KRT14 genes.

We identified 39 different mutations, of which 15 have not been published previously. Three novel deletion/insertion mutations, among them one in-frame duplication, were associated with the rare phenotype of EBS with mottled pigmentation. We identified for the first time a patient with compound heterozygosity for KRT5 mutations causing Dowling-Degos disease and EBS.

Identification of novel mutations and genotype-phenotype correlations in EBS allow improved understanding of disease pathogenesis as well as better patient management.