TMSS Medical College Journal

Collodion baby describes a highly characteristic clinical entity in newborns encased in a yellowish translucent membrane resembling collodion. The collodion membrane is composed of thick skin sheets which resemble translucent, tight parchment paper. The purpose is to report the rare occurrence of collodion baby among our population. In this report we present a rare case of collodion baby in whom the skin was parchment like, Shiny and thickened with distorted facial feature like ectropion and eclabium with pseudo contracture of digits. In almost all of the collodion membrane cases an autosomal recessive ichthyosiform disease is implicated. Usually these babies are premature. Congenital Lamellar Icthyosis also known as Icthyosis lamellaris or non bullous congenital icthyosis is a rare inherited, phenotype Autosomal Icthyosis (ARCI). Gradually these children will develop signs of one of several types of icthyosis which gives the skin appearance of "Fish Scales". Conclusively, these newborns should be monitored carefully in intense care units and is difficult to diagnose in antenatal period.

The first clinical description of collodion membrane (Pérez, 1880) continues to be valid: "The baby’s skin is replaced by a cornified substance of uniform texture which gives the body a vamished appearance”! The term collodion baby refers to a clinic entity used for newborns who are encompassed by a translucent, tight and parchment paper like skin sheets so called collodion membrane, on the entire body surface.234 Collodion baby as a term was first used by Hallopeau in 1884.46 Although, the pathogenesis of molecular mechanisms apparently lead to an epidermal comification disorder, keratinocyte protein and lipid metabolism defects resulting from autosomal recessive genetic mutations have also been notified as important cofactors. The cause of both autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis and congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (nonbullous) have been reported to be transglutaminase | gene mutation localized on the 14q11.5.7