OBJECTIVE: We investigated, for the first time, a large Chinese AEI pedigree exhibiting interfamilial phenotypic heterogeneity.
METHODS: We collected clinical data and DNA from the members of the family, and skin lesions were obtained from two patients with different phenotypes. Skin imaging examinations were performed. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were used to detect gene mutations.
RESULTS: The characteristic features of granular layer degeneration in the two biopsies were verified via histological methods. The missense mutation c.1436T > C in KRT1 was detected in all nine patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that AEI may present with different clinical phenotypes and that mutation analysis for suspected cases is necessary to obtain a precise diagnosis.