[Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome: A new case]

Abstract

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a rare primary immunodeficiency, which combines severe periodontal disease with edentulism and palmoplantar keratosis (PPK). PLS is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is due to mutations in the cathepsin C gene. The biological properties of the neutrophils (PN) are altered, leading to a gingival dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth, with intense inflammation of the periodontium. We report the observation of a 4-year-old girl who presented to the clinic with gingivitis, partial edentulism, and PPK, whose diagnosis, raised after a long delay, was suggested by null cathepsin C activity and confirmed by the presence of heterozygous mutations in exon 4: c.628C>T, pArg210* and in exon 7: c.1286G>A, p.Trp429*. A multidisciplinary approach transformed the functional and esthetic prognosis and psychological behavior of this child. This classical observation describes this poorly known phenotype.