[Keratosis diffusa fetalis. Apropos of 2 cases]

Keratosis diffusa fetalis is a rare autosomic recessive disorder, in which infants are covered with large parchment-like scales, split by deep fissures. Most affected infants die a few weeks after birth because of infections and respiratory problems. The authors present the clinical, histological and ultrastructural aspects of two cases of Ichthyosis congenita fetalis observed in negro-African newborns.