HEREDITARY POLYMORPHIC LIGHT ERUPTION OF AMERICAN-INDIANS - OCCURRENCE IN NON-INDIANS WITH POLYMORPHIC LIGHT ERUPTION

Background: Hereditary polymorphic light eruption (HPLE) occurs unique ly in the American Indian and Inuit and exhibits autosomal dominant tr ansmission, Because the cutaneous expression of HPLE resembles that of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) and because many non-Indians in the United States have American Indian heritage, some instances of PLE may actually be HPLE. Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether non -Indian patients with PLE have characteristics suggestive of HPLE. Met hods: We surveyed in Nebraska 25 European-Caucasian and 36 African-Ame rican patients with PLE for American Indian heritage and photosensitiv e relatives, Nonphotosensitive subjects (52 Caucasians and 40 African Americans) were surveyed for American Indian heritage. Results: Americ an Indian heritage occurred in II Caucasian patients (44%); of those, seven (64%) had photosensitive relatives. Likewise, 29 African America ns (81%) had American Indian heritage; 19 (66%) of those had photosens itive relatives. American Indian heritage occurred in 10 Caucasian con trol subjects (19%) and in 34 African-American control subjects (85%). Conclusion: If American Indian heritage and a family history of photo sensitivity are definitive for HPLE, seven (28%) of our Caucasian pati ents and 19 (53%) of our African-American patients have HPLE rather th an PLE. We urge physicians who suspect PLE in non-Indians to ask about American Indian heritage and photosensitive relatives and to screen t heir present patients with PLE for such characteristics.