Self-healing collodion baby - a transient disorder of cornification or a mild form of lamellar ichthyosis?

Collodion baby is a clinical description for a transient condition of the n ewborn which is caused by various disorders of cornification. The majority of cases are due to autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis. In up to 10% o f cases "self-healing" of the skin occurs. We report about a mature male ba by who at birth was covered entirely with a shining, collodion-like membran e. There also were marked ectropion of the eyelids and eversion of the lips . After shedding of the membrane almost complete clearing of the skin occur red until the age of three months. In the case reported here skin biopsies taken on the 20th day of life showed discrete and nonspecific ultrastructur al changes,with no features of lamellar ichthyosis or other cornification d isorders. Discussion: From these findings and those reported in the literature we con clude that the prognosis of a collodion baby is unpredictable on clinical e valuation. However an ultrastructural examination can contribute to early a ssessment of prognosis in this heterogeneous neonatal condition.