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Cutis Laxa

By

Frank Pessler

, MD, PhD, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research

Reviewed/Revised Dec 2022
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Topic Resources

Cutis laxa is characterized by lax skin hanging in loose folds. Diagnosis is clinical. There is no specific treatment, but plastic surgery is sometimes done.

Cutis laxa may be inherited or acquired.

There are 4 hereditary forms:

The autosomal recessive forms tend to be more common, and one of them causes potentially lethal cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal complications. The other inherited forms may be relatively benign.

Rarely, infants can acquire cutis laxa after a febrile illness or after exposure to a specific drug (eg, hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin, fetal exposure to penicillamine).

The underlying defect in acquired cases is unknown.

Pathophysiology of Cutis Laxa

Cutis laxa is caused by abnormal elastin metabolism that results in fragmented elastin and thus reduced elasticity of the skin. The precise cause is unknown except in congenital cases where an underlying gene defect (eg, in the ELN, FBLN4, FBLN5, ATP6V0A2, or ATP7A genes) can be identified. Several factors, such as copper deficiency Copper Deficiency Copper is a component of many body proteins; almost all of the body’s copper is bound to copper proteins. Copper deficiency may be acquired or inherited. (See also Overview of Mineral Deficiency... read more , elastin quantity and morphology, and elastases and elastase inhibitors, are implicated in the abnormal elastin degradation.

Symptoms and Signs of Cutis Laxa

In hereditary forms, dermal laxity may be present at birth or develop later; it occurs wherever the skin is normally loose and hanging in folds, most obviously on the face. Affected children have mournful or Churchillian facies and a hooked nose. The benign autosomal recessive form also causes intellectual disability and joint laxity. Gastrointestinal tract hernias and diverticula are common.

If the disorder is severe, progressive pulmonary emphysema may precipitate cor pulmonale. Bronchiectasis, heart failure, and aortic aneurysms can also occur.

In the acquired forms, presentation differs according to age of onset. There are two types. Type 1 typically manifests in adulthood and often also involves internal organs. Type 2 (postinflammatory elastolysis and cutis laxa [Marshall syndrome]) manifests in early childhood and only rarely involves internal organs. It is often preceded by an inflammatory phase.

Diagnosis of Cutis Laxa

  • Clinical evaluation

  • Sometimes skin biopsy, testing for complications

Diagnosis of cutis laxa is clinical. There are no specific laboratory findings; however, a skin biopsy may reveal abnormalities in elastic fibers.

Certain tests (eg, echocardiography, chest x-ray) may be done to check for associated conditions (eg, emphysema, cardiomegaly, heart failure) in patients with cardiopulmonary symptoms.

Genetic testing is indicated for patients with early-onset cutis laxa or a suggestive family history because test results may predict the risk of transmission to offspring and of extracutaneous organ involvement.

Treatment of Cutis Laxa

  • Sometimes plastic surgery

There is no specific cutis laxa treatment.

Physical therapy may sometimes help increase skin tone.

Plastic surgery considerably improves appearance in patients with hereditary cutis laxa but is less successful in those with acquired disease. Healing is usually uncomplicated, but dermal laxity may recur.

Extracutaneous complications are treated appropriately.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Cuprimine, Depen, D-PENAMINE
No brand name available
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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