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[Hypertrichosis of the elbows]
P Plantin1, P Le Roux, C Larzul
1Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Cornouaille.
Insights
Hairy elbows, a rare localized hypertrichosis appearing in infancy, is reported in a new case. This condition may be associated with unexplained short stature in children.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Clinical Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Hairy elbows is a rare form of localized hypertrichosis presenting in early infancy.
- This condition is characterized by excessive hair growth specifically on the elbows.
- Individual case reports are crucial for understanding this rare phenomenon.
Observation:
- A case report details a 10-year-old girl with hairy elbows and significant short stature (-2.5 SD).
- The patient exhibited hypertrichosis and unexplained intrauterine growth retardation from birth.
- This presentation highlights the potential association between hairy elbows and growth abnormalities.
Findings:
- Since Beighton's initial report, ten cases of hairy elbows have been documented.
- Seven of these ten cases were associated with unexplained short stature.
- The co-occurrence suggests a possible link, though the small sample size necessitates caution.
Implications:
- Hairy elbows may serve as a clinical marker for short stature in pediatric cases.
- Further research and case accumulation are needed to confirm the strength of this association.
- Recognizing this association can aid in early diagnosis and management of growth-related issues.
Introduction:
A new case of hairy elbows is reported. This localized hypertrichosis, which appears in the first months of life, deserves to be individualized. CASE-REPORT. A 10-year old girl presented with hairy elbows and short stature (-2.5 S.D.). Hypertrichosis and unexplained intrauterine growth retardation had been noticed at birth.
Conclusion:
Ten cases of hairy elbow have been reported since Beighton's case. Unexplained short stature (unrelated to any specific dysmorphic syndrome) was observed in 7 cases. Hairy elbows could be considered a mark of short stature, but this association might be overestimated owing to the very few published cases.