Trichothiodystrophy

Last Updated: 2019-08-26

Author(s): Anzengruber, Navarini

  • Pollit 1968
  • Allen 1971
  • Tay 1971
  • Price 1980

Pollit syndrome, sulfur deficient hair

Due to reduced sulphur content, brittle, brittle, broken hair occurs.

Rare disease.

  • AR
  • A defect of the DNA excision repair system in the sulfur metabolism results in a low content of sulfur and cystine in hair in patients with trichothiodystrophy.
  • Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is divided into TTD-A, TTD-B and TTD-D depending on the 3 genloci.
  • Association:
    • Xeroderma pigmentosum.
  • Brittle, brittle hair. In part, alopecia areata-like herds are visible. As with Trichorrhexis nodosa, hair shaft fractures may occur. Longitudinal fractures (trichoschisis) are also often visible.
  • Further neuro-ectodermal changes (nail atrophy, koilonychia) may also occur.
  • Other symptoms include dry, ichthyose-like skin, mental retardation and increased photosensitivity, short stature, cataract.
  • Polarizing microscopic: tiger tail pattern = alternating bright, then dark bands 
  • Scanning electron microscopy: cuticle degeneration and cortical degradation
  • Determination of sulfur (<50%) and cystine content (>10%) in hair or nails

Scalp 

Frühzeitiger Tod.

Keine Therapie möglich.

  1. Traboulsi H, Davoli S, Catez P, Egly JM, Compe E. Dynamic partnership between TFIIH, PGC-1α and SIRT1 is impaired in trichothiodystrophy. PLoS Genet. 2014 Oct 23;10(10):e1004732.
  2. Atkinson EC, Thiara D, Tamura D, DiGiovanna JJ, Kraemer KH, Hadigan C. Growth and nutrition in children with trichothiodystrophy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 Oct;59(4):458-64.
  3. Singh A, Compe E, Le May N, Egly JM. TFIIH subunit alterations causing xeroderma pigmentosum and trichothiodystrophy specifically disturb several steps during transcription. Am J Hum Genet. 2015 Feb 5;96(2):194-207.