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The diagnosis and treatment of dyskeratosis congenita: a review
Authors Fernández García MS, Teruya-Feldstein J
Received 5 April 2014
Accepted for publication 3 June 2014
Published 21 August 2014 Volume 2014:5 Pages 157—167
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/JBM.S47437
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 4
M Soledad Fernández García,1,2 Julie Teruya-Feldstein1
1Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; 2Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
Abstract: Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure (BMF) syndrome characterized by the classic triad of abnormal skin pigmentation, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. However, patients usually develop BMF and are predisposed to cancer, with increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma and hematolymphoid neoplasms. DC is a disease of defective telomere maintenance and is heterogeneous at the genetic level. It can be inherited in X-linked, autosomal dominant, or autosomal recessive patterns. Mutations in at least ten telomere- and telomerase-associated genes have been described in DC. There are no targeted therapies for DC and patients usually die of BMF due to a deficient renewing capability of hematopoietic stem cells. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for BMF.
Keywords: dyskeratosis congenita, diagnosis, genetics, clinical, treatment
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