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No HPO annotations are available for this condition.
Age of onset: infancy.
Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a disorder of the skin and its appendages, eye, and central nervous system (CNS) that occurs primarily in females and on occasion in males. The largest cohort of individuals with IP in whom the clinical and molecular diagnosis has been confirmed is reported in . Skin. See , , , and . IP manifests in stages that evolve sequentially. The onset and duration of each stage vary among individuals, and not all individuals experience all four stages. The skin abnormalities that define each stage occur along lines of embryonic and fetal skin development known as Blaschko lines . Blaschko lines correspond with cell migration or growth pathways that are established during embryogenesis. Like dermatomes, they are linear on the limbs and circumferential on the trunk.
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) should be suspected in individuals with characteristic clinical findings of the skin, teeth, hair, nails, eyes, and CNS, and family history as detailed below.
Major criteria (skin lesions that occur in stages from infancy to adulthood)
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
A diagnosis other than incontinentia pigmenti (IP) should be considered when an individual has skeletal involvement (other than secondary to neurologic deficit), gross neurologic deficit, severe alopecia, atypical hyperpigmentation, or gross hypopigmentation. Body segment asymmetry is not usually associated with IP; however, one individual with IP and transverse terminal upper acromelia has been reported . The differential diagnosis for the skin manifestations of IP varies by stage. Because a child with IP may have an infectious comorbidity, findings consistent with an infectious disease should be evaluated accordingly, regardless of the presence of IP.
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
No approved treatments are currently available for ectodermal dysplasia and immune deficiency. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with incontinentia pigmenti (IP), the following evaluations are recommended if they have not already been completed:
Physical examination with particular emphasis on the skin, hair, nails, and neurologic system to establish the presence and extent of manifestations
Consultation with a clinical geneticist and/or genetic counselor
Involvement of a pediatric dermatologist for management of individuals with significant skin involvement
Prompt examination by an ophthalmologist familiar with IP and/or diseases of the retina for evidence of retinal neovascularization
Brain MRI examination and referral to a neurologist for an EEG if seizures, other neurologic abnormalities, or retinal hypervascularization are present
Magnetic resonance angiography, potentially useful in identifying cerebrovascular lesions if the neurologic deficit is consistent with a stroke-like pattern
Developmental evaluation if significant delays are identified
Involvement of a pediatric cardiologist for management of neonates with pulmonary hypertension
Treatment includes the following:
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
View trials for ectodermal dysplasia and immune deficiency
No schedule for eye examinations has been established, but the following has been suggested:
Monthly until age three to four months
Every three months between ages four months and one year
Every six months between ages one and three years
Annually after age three years
Neurologic function should be assessed at routine visits with a pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, or developmental pediatrician. Ongoing evaluation by a pedodontist or dentist is appropriate.
Source: GeneReviews — "Incontinentia Pigmenti"
Estimated prevalence: Unknown (Unknown prevalence).
No clinical trials have been registered for ectodermal dysplasia and immune deficiency.
19 publications have been identified in PubMed for ectodermal dysplasia and immune deficiency. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (42%), Review / Meta-Analysis (21%), and Epidemiology / Natural History (21%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Patient case studies | 8 | 42% |
Research summaries | 4 | 21% |
Disease patterns and progression | 4 | 21% |
Laboratory research | 3 | 16% |
Zhu T (2026). [PMID: 42040894](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42040894/). *Hum Mutat*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Kökcü Karadağ Şİ (2026). [PMID: 41708578](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41708578/). *Scand J Immunol*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Lin S (2026). [PMID: 41517791](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41517791/). *Medicine (Baltimore)*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Horstmann ME (2025). [PMID: 41464860](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41464860/). *J Clin Med*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Blanco E (2025). [PMID: 39560673](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39560673/). *J Exp Med*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Jurczuk A (2025). [PMID: 41369391](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41369391/). *Cells*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Bhardwaj R (2025). [PMID: 40459545](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40459545/). *Biochem Soc Trans*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Cifaldi C (2025). [PMID: 39860371](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39860371/). *J Clin Med*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Rosenthal A (2025). [PMID: 39777821](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39777821/). *Pediatr Transplant*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Wang J (2025). [PMID: 40612668](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40612668/). *Genes Dis*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Data assembled from 4 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 1:59 AM UTC
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