Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia is a genetically determined skin disease, in the course of which changes appear on the body, resembling tree bark - hence the term "tree people". It is a very rare skin disease, but it is related to the widespread human papillomavirus (HPV). What are the causes and symptoms of Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia? What is the treatment?

Source: RUPTLY / x-news

Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia(epidermodysplasia verruciformis, epithelial papillary dysplasia) is a very rare skin disease with a genetic basis. Its essence is the abnormal multiplication of skin cells that form growths resembling tree bark. So far, only a few cases of this disease have been reported in the world.

Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia - Causes

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is probably responsible for Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia - mainly types 5, 8 and 14. It can cause this disease only in people with a certain genetic predisposition - with a mutation of chromosome 17 within two genes - EVER1 or EVER2. This mutation lowers the skin's immune potential, and the virus begins to penetrate its layers, contributing to the appearance of lesions. It is known that this predisposition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia - symptoms

Symptoms of Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia are skin lesions that:

  • can be located all over the body (except nails and scalp). They usually cover the face, hands and feet first, and then spread over the skin of the entire body
  • may appear as erythema, discoloration, warts or growths resembling tree bark (skin horns)
  • they grow systematically, sometimes very rapidly

Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia increases the risk of cancer development.

Until now, the most famous person with Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia was Dede Koswara from Indonesia. Almost his entire body was covered with a layer of warts. In turn, the hands and feet resembled themtree branches. The man died in 2016. Abula Bajandara, born in Bangladesh, is struggling with the same growths, as he developed growths when he was 16 years old.

Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia - diagnostics

Diagnosis is made by symptoms and genetic testing. Sometimes skin changes may suggest diseases such as flat warts, lichen planus or tinea versicolor, so they should be ruled out.

Lewandowsky-Lutz Dysplasia - treatment

Treatment is based on the administration of drugs from the group of retinoids, which inhibit the penetration of the virus into the skin layers. In some patients, the changes regress for some time or only their growth is inhibited.

Skin lesions can weigh up to several kilograms and make it difficult to perform daily activities such as walking or eating, so your doctor may decide to remove them during surgery or with a laser. However, the changes often come back. They can also turn into a skin cancer (e.g. squamous cell carcinoma of the skin).

"Tree-man" in Bangladesh. The growths on his hands and feet weigh at least 5 kg

Category:

Genetic diseases