Comel-Netherton syndrome complicated by papillomatous skin lesions containing human papillomaviruses 51 and 52 and plane warts containing human papillomavirus 16

We describe a 28-year-old woman with characteristic clinical signs of Comel -Netherton syndrome (CNS) who showed numerous plane warts on her face and f orearms and papillomatous skin tumours affecting her groins and genitoanal skin. Using human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific primers for cutaneous and mucosal HPV types we identified HPV 16-specific sequences in plane wart s and HPV 51- and HPV 52-specific DNA in papillomatous skin from the patien t's groins, suggesting a pathogenetic role (cofactor) for HPV in the develo pment of verrucous skin lesions in patients with CNS. Whether the susceptib ility to HPV infections is due to decreased cellular immunity or epidermal defence mechanisms remains to be seen.