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Piebaldism
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Overview
Piebaldism is a rare inherited condition characterized by a white forelock (a patch of white hair directly above the forehead). The name piebaldism is derived from the words “pie” (from magpie, which is a black and white bird) and “bald” (from the bald eagle, the US national bird that has a white feathered head). Other features include a white patch on the central portion of the forehead; white eyebrow and eyelash hair; and white patches of skin on the face (particularly the chin), trunk and extremities (hands and feet are not usually affected). This condition is present at birth and usually remains unchanged throughout life. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and is caused by mutations in the KIT gene.[1]
References
- Piebaldism. DermNet. http://www.dermnet.org.nz/colour/piebaldism.html. Accessed April 4, 2011.
Your Questions Answered
by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information CenterPlease contact us with your questions about Piebaldism. We will answer your question and update these pages with new resources and information.
On this page
General Information
- DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition. Click on the link to view the information.
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Piebaldism. Click on the link to go to GHR and review the information.
- Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. Click on the link to view this information. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Piebaldism. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Piebaldism. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.