Trichohepatoenteric syndrome

Trichohepatoenteric syndrome is a condition that affects the hair (tricho-), liver (hepato-), and intestines (enteric), as well as other tissues and organs in the body. This condition is also known as syndromic diarrhea because chronic, difficult-to-treat diarrhea is one of its major features. Within the first few weeks of life, affected infants develop watery diarrhea that occurs multiple times per day. Even with nutritional support through intravenous feedings (parenteral nutrition), many of these children experience failure to thrive, which means they do not gain weight or grow at the expected rate. Most children with trichohepatoenteric syndrome are small at birth, and they remain shorter than their peers throughout life.

Abnormal hair is another feature of trichohepatoenteric syndrome. Hair in affected individuals is described as wooly, brittle, patchy, and easily pulled out. Under a microscope, some strands of hair can be seen to vary in diameter, with thicker and thinner spots. This feature is known as trichorrhexis nodosa.

Other signs and symptoms of trichohepatoenteric syndrome can include liver disease; skin abnormalities; and distinctive facial features, including a wide forehead, a broad base of the nose, and widely spaced eyes. Overall, the facial features are described as "coarse." Most affected individuals also experience immune system abnormalities that can make them prone to developing infections. Less commonly, trichohepatoenteric syndrome is associated with heart (cardiac) abnormalities. Mild intellectual disability has been reported in at least half of all children with the condition.

Trichohepatoenteric syndrome is often life-threatening in childhood, particularly in children who develop liver disease or severe infections.

Other names

Diarrhea, fatal infantile, with trichorrhexis nodosa; Diarrhea, syndromic; Intractable diarrhea with phenotypic anomalies; Phenotypic diarrhea of infancy; SD/THE; Syndromic diarrhea; THE syndrome; THES; Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome

Inheritance pattern

Autosomal recessive

Related genes

SKIC2; SKIC3

Source: MedlinePlus Genetics, U.S. National Library of Medicine.