Melissa Barriga

To the Editor: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a subtype of inherited epidermolysis bullosa. RDEB is a mechanobullous disease due to the lack of functional type VII collagen, which forms anchoring fibrils that are essential to dermal-epidermal adhesion. One method to measure dermal-epidermal adhesion strength is to induce suction blisters.

To the Editor: Patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) have chronic wounds that are difficult to evaluate at clinic visits because of extensive dressings and pain. Monitoring the efficacy of therapies for RDEB requires an affordable and reliable method for assessing changes in wound area over time.

To the Editor: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare genodermatosis that causes severe wounds with a poorly understood natural history. It is understood that some wounds heal within weeks to months and that some heal and relapse. In a previous survey of 1226 wounds in 85 patients with RDEB, 76% healed within 8 weeks, and 24% were present for longer than 8 weeks. Respondents were able to classify these wounds into 2 groups. 3 Kyaw B.M. Jarbrink K. Martinengo L. Car J. Harding K.