DERMATOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF 71 DOWN-SYNDROME CHILDREN ADMITTED TO A CLINICAL GENETICS UNIT

Seventy-one children with Down syndrome who were admitted consecutivel y to Hacettepe University Children's Hospital Genetics Department were examined for skin disorders. None of the patients suffered directly f rom skin disorders. All were living with their families and had approx imately similar living conditions. There were 29 children with palmopl antar hyperkeratosis (40.8%), seven with xerosis (9.8%), 22 with sebor rheic dermatitis (30.9%), 14 with fissured tongue (20%), eight with ge ographic tongue (11.2%), and nine with cutis marmorata (12.6%). Nine h ad normal skin findings. Since palmoplantar hyperkeratosis may be a re sult of vitamin A deficiency, the serum vitamin A levels of these pati ents were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between vitam in A levels of the children with Down syndrome and the control group.