Segmental macular hyperpigmentation: new genes, new clinical implications.
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BACKGROUND: Segmental macular hyperpigmentation (SMH) is macular hyperpigmentation in a defined developmental pattern, presenting at birth or in the early years. The only known cause of this phenotype has been mosaicism of gene GNAS, as part of McCune-Albright syndrome. It is unknown how often GNAS mosaicism is the cause of SMH presenting to dermatology or whether there are other genetic causes for the phenotype with different clinical implications. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic causes of SMH and the natural history of the condition. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 50 children were recruited consecutively for phenotypic and genotypic studies over a period of 15 years. High-depth next-generation sequencing of affected skin with bioinformatic analysis optimized for mosaic variant detection was performed in 42 children. RESULTS: Three patients with mosaic GNAS variants were identified, all otherwise well at presentation, but one of whom went on to develop endocrine complications in the follow-up period. Importantly, in a further five patients, new genetic causes were identified. These were pathogenic mosaic variants in single genes (NRAS, n = 2; BRAF, n = 1; PTPN11, n = 1) and a mosaic chromosomal copy number variant (chromosome 5p gain, n = 1), all undetectable in blood. In most cases, the variant allele frequency was extremely low, probably reflecting the very few variant cells in a whole skin biopsy of a macular lesion, and it is possible that causative variants in tested genes are still being missed, even at current sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of these highly disparate genetic causes has important implications for personalized patient management. Specifically, detection of GNAS variants will involve monitoring and investigation of other systems; NRAS/BRAF/PTPN11 will involve discussion of melanoma awareness and the potential of passing on variants as germline diseases to future offspring; and chromosomal abnormalities may have implications in multiple clinical areas. Our findings multiply the known causes of SMH and reveal the importance of genotyping patients presenting to dermatology, even when clinically well.