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Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024.

Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita

Synonym: Van Lohuizen Syndrome
, DO
Department of Dermatology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
, MD, MEd
Professor of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
, MD, MSc
Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Genetics
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Initial Posting: .

Estimated reading time: 27 minutes

Summary

Clinical characteristics.

Isolated and classic cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) are characterized by congenital skin changes including erythematous-to-violaceous, reticulated, net-like or marbled-appearing patches of skin that do not mostly or completely resolve with warming or any other acute intervention. Individuals with isolated CMTC have no other syndromic features, and skin lesions tend to fade or resolve. Those with classic CMTC may have accompanying hemihypoplasia with body asymmetry, skin atrophy or ulceration, other vascular malformations, and occasional ocular issues (early-onset glaucoma and/or peripheral retinal vascular attenuation) but do not have other malformations, dysmorphic features, or cognitive impairment. The most common location for the CMTC lesions is on the legs. An affected limb may also display weakness or be unusually susceptible to cold compared to an unaffected limb. In more than half of affected individuals, skin lesions will generally fade across a wide range in age (6 weeks to 26 years), most commonly in the first year of life, but may not resolve completely.

Diagnosis/testing.

A molecular diagnosis can be established in a proband with suggestive cutaneous findings if a mosaic heterozygous pathogenic variant in GNA11 is identified by molecular genetic testing.

Management.

Treatment of medical manifestations: Most cutaneous changes improve or resolve with time and do not require intervention. Serial exams with photography are helpful. Persistent CMTC vascular lesions may be addressed with frequency-doubled Nd:YAG, Q-switched alexandrite, and pulsed dye laser therapy, although outcomes are mixed depending on the severity and depth of the lesions. Skin ulceration is usually treated by a qualified ulcer team with advanced knowledge in pain control. Intense pulsed light therapy may be considered to aid in ulcer improvement and faster healing. Lumbar sympathetic blockade may be considered for those with chronic pain and temperature dysregulation. Shoe lifts or orthotics may be considered in those with mild leg length discrepancies, and epiphysiodesis or limb lengthening may be considered in severe cases. Weakness is typically addressed through physical therapy. Standard treatment per ophthalmologist for glaucoma and peripheral retinal vascular abnormalities is recommended.

Treatment of psychosocial issues: Parents should be counseled on how to deal with child abuse accusations that may occur when individuals (including care providers and strangers) who are not familiar with CMTC happen to see their child's skin lesions. Self-esteem issues can be a major problem for affected individuals and may be addressed proactively through resiliency training and bibliotherapy. People unfamiliar with the condition are often worried that the condition may be contagious, so providing this information up front can defuse unwanted curiosity.

Surveillance: Close monitoring of the skin for early signs of impending ulceration as determined at initial evaluation; assessment for pain, weakness, and temperature dysregulation at each visit; annual monitoring of limb lengths and girth until skeletal maturity; ophthalmologic evaluation to include measurement of intraocular pressure and consideration of peripheral retinal vascular imaging every six months for the first four years of life, then annually (throughout lifetime) or any time there is ocular pain or visible corneal clouding; annual monitoring of coping skills related to visible physical differences starting at school age.

Agents/circumstances to avoid: Blood draws or IV placement in an affected limb; cold exposure.

Genetic counseling.

Isolated and classic CMTC are typically not inherited. Most affected individuals represent simplex cases.

  • Vertical transmission of a GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been reported to date. The risk to sibs of a proband with somatic mosaicism for a pathogenic variant in GNA11 would be expected to be the same as in the general population.
  • Rarely, autosomal dominant inheritance has been reported in families with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC (i.e., families in which a GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been identified). Sib recurrence in families with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC has been described but is very rare.

Because vertical transmission of a mosaic GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been reported to date and clinically diagnosed isolated and classic CMTC is usually not inherited, risk to family members is presumed to be very low.

Diagnosis

Isolated and classic cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) are considered capillary malformations by the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. Clinically, CMTC is diagnosed by characteristic congenital erythematous-to-violaceous net-like or marbled areas of skin (Figure 1). Several groups have attempted to develop clinical diagnostic criteria [Kienast & Hoeger 2009, Bui et al 2019], although no consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for isolated and classic CMTC have been universally accepted (see Establishing the Diagnosis). For a proposed classification system for the physical findings of CMTC, see Nomenclature.

Suggestive Findings

Isolated and classic CMTC should be suspected in individuals with the following clinical and family history findings.

Clinical findings

  • Persistent cutis marmorata that is more prominent or florid than physiologic cutis marmorata AND:
    • Typically affects specific body areas with clear demarcation
    • May be accompanied by ulceration and/or atrophy of the involved skin
  • Vascular telangiectasia (spider veins)
  • Dilated, tortuous superficial veins
  • Body asymmetry in the form of hemihypoplasia

Family history. Because isolated and classic CMTC may be caused by a de novo, mosaic pathogenic variant, most probands represent simplex cases (i.e., a single recognized occurrence in a family).

Establishing the Diagnosis

Clinical Diagnosis

While there are no universally accepted clinical diagnostic criteria, the authors suggest that an affected individual should have all three of the following:

  • Congenital, net-like pattern of red-to-purplish cutaneous erythema that is obvious at rest
  • Erythema that does not mostly or completely resolve with warming or any other acute intervention
  • No other features of syndromes in which CMTC or CMTC-like lesions are present (See Differential Diagnosis.)

Note: These proposed clinical diagnostic criteria have not been validated.

Molecular Diagnosis

A molecular diagnosis of isolated and classic CMTC can be established in a proband with suggestive cutaneous findings if a mosaic heterozygous pathogenic (or likely pathogenic) variant in GNA11 is identified by molecular genetic testing (see Table 1).

Note: (1) Per ACMG/AMP variant interpretation guidelines, the terms "pathogenic variant" and "likely pathogenic variant" are synonymous in a clinical setting, meaning that both are considered diagnostic and can be used for clinical decision making [Richards et al 2015]. Reference to "pathogenic variants" in this section is understood to include likely pathogenic variants. (2) Identification of a heterozygous GNA11 variant of uncertain significance does not establish or rule out the diagnosis.

Because the few reported individuals with a molecular diagnosis have a GNA11 pathogenic variant that was postzygotic (and thus mosaic), more than one tissue may need to be tested [Jordan et al 2020, Polubothu et al 2020].

  • Experience suggests that sequence analysis of DNA derived from affected skin or subcutaneous tissue has a higher detection rate than that of peripheral blood-derived DNA, where the variant is often absent.
  • Because CMTC is a focal disorder, pathogenic variants may only be detectable in affected tissues.
  • Failure to detect a GNA11 pathogenic variant does not exclude a clinical diagnosis of CMTC in individuals with suggestive features, given that low-level mosaicism may be observed [Jordan et al 2020]. Furthermore, pathogenic variants in other as-yet-unidentified genes may lead to CMTC.
  • Sensitivity to detect low-level mosaicism of a GNA11 pathogenic variant is theoretically greatest using massively parallel sequencing (also known as next-generation sequencing) in tissues other than blood.

Table 1.

Molecular Genetic Testing Used in Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita

Gene 1MethodProportion of Probands with a Pathogenic Variant 2 Detectable by Method
GNA11 Sequence analysis 3Dependent on tissue analyzed & method 4
Unknown 5NA
1.

See Table A. Genes and Databases for chromosome locus and protein.

2.

See Molecular Genetics for information on variants detected in this gene.

3.

Sequence analysis detects variants that are benign, likely benign, of uncertain significance, likely pathogenic, or pathogenic. Variants may include small intragenic deletions/insertions and missense, nonsense, and splice site variants; typically, exon or whole-gene deletions/duplications are not detected. For issues to consider in interpretation of sequence analysis results, click here.

4.

Most identified GNA11 pathogenic variants are missense gain-of-function pathogenic variants. Loss-of-function pathogenic variants may lead to other conditions (see Genetically Related Disorders).

5.

Next-generation sequencing of affected tissues has failed to detect GNA11 variants in most people with isolated and classic CMTC, so genetic heterogeneity is very likely present.

Clinical Characteristics

Clinical Description

To date, nearly 500 individuals with all clinical subtypes of cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC), including isolated and classic CMTC, have been published (reviewed in Bui et al [2019]). CMTC should be distinguished from cutis marmorata (CM), which is a normal physiologic finding that is apparent at rest in some newborns because of immaturity of the vascular system. CM consists of a homogeneous, fine, lacy, or reticular capillary change that worsens (or becomes apparent) with cold or emotion, completely (or nearly completely) resolves with warming, and usually fades by age four to six months. No ulcerations or skin atrophy are present. In contrast, while CMTC lesions often show changes with warming or strong emotion, the lesions do not completely disappear acutely (regardless of the intervention) as expected. If complete or near-complete resolution occurs acutely with any intervention, the individual has CM, not CMTC.

While individuals with the physical finding of CMTC may have a spectrum of features (see Nomenclature), this chapter focuses on the clinical subtypes of isolated and classic CMTC. Syndromes in which CMTC is one feature (syndromic CMTC) or situations where CMTC is one of several features (CMTC plus) are outside the scope of this chapter (see Differential Diagnosis).

  • Isolated CMTC. The skin changes consist of irregular, marbled or net-like, reddish-to-violaceous, flat skin lesions that may occur on a background of CM (see Figure 1). Presumably depending on the thickness of the dermal layer, CMTC lesions may have mildly diffuse or sharp borders. This group comprises 57.5% of reported individuals who have CMTC as a feature.
  • Classic CMTC is defined as CMTC with accompanying hemihypoplasia. Ocular problems, especially glaucoma, may be seen in a subset of affected individuals. Apart from these, no significant dysmorphism or other congenital anomalies are present.
    Note: Care should be taken by the clinician to distinguish whether there is hemihypoplasia on one side versus hemihyperplasia on the other side, as the presence of hemihyperplasia indicates that a different diagnosis should be sought.

Skin/dermatologic findings. In more than half of affected individuals, skin lesions will generally fade across a wide range in age (6 weeks to 26 years), most commonly in the first year of life. For the remaining half, the skin lesions are lifelong.

  • CMTC lesions
    • The most common location for the lesions is the legs.
    • Some authors report the presence of linear depressions, usually over the limb joints, in individuals with CMTC [Garzon et al 2007].
    • Lesions localized to the face are found in only 7.1% of affected individuals.
    • Generalized CMTC is found in one quarter of people with any type of CMTC (isolated, classic, syndromic, or plus; see Nomenclature for definition of these terms).
  • Other vascular lesions sometimes seen include the following:
    • Capillary malformations
    • Discrete, superficial, often tortuous varicose veins. Such veins in an affected limb may be fragile.
    • Nevus anemicus. It is unknown whether this is a distinct lesion or the result of a "steal syndrome" [Amitai et al 2000].
  • Dermal melanocytosis (previously called "Mongolian spots") is reported in 4.5% of affected individuals; simply observing common dermal melanocytosis does not warrant changing the diagnosis (see phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type V in Differential Diagnosis).
  • Skin atrophy or ulceration is usually congenital or occurs in infancy. However, late-onset skin atrophy with painful ulcerations has been reported to occur as late as adolescence or early adulthood in rare individuals with CMTC [Lunge & Mahajan 2014, Haidari et al 2020].
  • Evolution of skin lesions
    • Some skin lesions may evolve into a nevus vascularis mixtus, with CMTC-like and nevus anemicus features [Jordan et al 2020].
    • Disappearance of CMTC entirely is rare but has been reported to occur, particularly with long-term follow up [Rogers & Poyzer 1982, del Boz González et al 2008].
    • A congenital lesion appearing as ulcerated retiform purpura that evolved within days and took the appearance of typical CMTC by three months has been reported, suggesting that this could be one way in which CMTC lesions develop [MacGibeny et al 2020].
      Patient 3 of Rogers & Poyzer [1982] and the affected individuals reported by Jia et al [2018] are other examples of this evolution and illustrate the importance of follow up of ulcerated violaceous lesions to make the correct diagnosis.

Temperature dysregulation. An affected limb may be cold all the time. Acute pain may occur in an affected limb with cold exposure. Parents report that affected children may be hot and sweat profusely even in cool ambient temperature or may be unaware of how hot or cold they are.

Body asymmetry is reported in 37.7% of affected individuals and classically affects a leg, with a reduction in girth compared to the contralateral limb. The arms or torso may also be affected; the face is rarely affected. Hemihypoplasia usually (not always) occurs in the regions with the most visible lesions and is congenital most of the time. Leg length discrepancy has been reported in 13.6% of 485 affected individuals.

  • About 13% (9 of 69) of children with classic CMTC were found to have a clinically significant leg length discrepancy of 2 cm or greater [Memarzadeh et al 2014].
  • Some leg length discrepancies resolve or stabilize in the first two years of life, and growth trajectories are not linear, requiring ongoing monitoring; differences in the range of 1 cm to 6.8 cm have been reported.
  • An affected limb may also display weakness or be unusually susceptible to cold compared to an unaffected limb.

Eye findings. Although uncommon (specific incidence is not well defined), infantile or juvenile glaucoma may occur. Elevation of intraocular pressure can lead to optic nerve damage and loss of vision. Peripheral retinal vascular attenuation has also been reported in a number of affected individuals and can lead to retinal ischemia. Dilated fundus examination, and if vascular changes are suspected, retinal imaging, can help detect the presence of retinal ischemia (see Management).

Social. Parents should be counseled on how to deal with child abuse accusations that may occur when individuals (including care providers and strangers) who are not familiar with CMTC notice their child's skin lesions. Parents should also be provided with lay language suitable for discussing the condition with friends, family, and even strangers. People unfamiliar with the condition are often worried that the condition may be contagious; providing this information up front can defuse unwanted curiosity.

  • Self-esteem issues can be a major problem for affected individuals and may be addressed proactively through resiliency training and bibliotherapy with books such as Rare Is Everywhere.
  • Giving children age-appropriate language to describe their condition can help with curious peers.
  • Children should be coached on strategies like smiling broadly until they get a smile in return and age-appropriate one-liners to manage staring.

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

No genotype-phenotype correlations for isolated and classic CMTC have been identified.

Nomenclature

Clinically, the authors classify the physical finding of CMTC into the following groups:

  • Isolated CMTC. The skin changes consist of irregular, marbled or net-like, reddish-to-violaceous, flat skin lesions that may occur on a background of CM in the absence of significant dysmorphic features, body asymmetry, or major congenital anomalies.
  • Classic CMTC refers to CMTC with body asymmetry, usually hemihypoplasia, and occasional ocular abnormalities (early-onset glaucoma and/or peripheral retinal vascular attenuation) without dysmorphic features or other congenital anomalies.
  • Syndromic CMTC refers to CMTC or CMTC-like lesions associated with a known syndrome (see Differential Diagnosis).
  • CMTC plus is a term the authors use to characterize CMTC that is associated with congenital anomalies and/or dysmorphic features in a pattern that does not fit with a known syndrome. This group likely comprises multiple conditions.

Previous terms used to refer to isolated and classic CMTC:

  • Congenital phlebectasia or congenital generalized phlebectasia
  • Naevus vascularis reticularis
  • Congenital livedo reticularis

Prevalence

Isolated and classic CMTC are rare conditions, with fewer than 500 individuals reported in the literature. Unfortunately, individuals with any type of CMTC (see Nomenclature) are frequently referred to in the literature as having "CMTC," without further delineation of CMTC subtype, and the older literature often includes more recently recognized diagnoses (e.g., diffuse capillary malformation with overgrowth, phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type V) under the blanket term of "CMTC." CMTC is found in nearly equal proportions between the sexes, with a slight predominance in females (1.2:1 female:male ratio).

Differential Diagnosis

Isolated and classic cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) are congenital conditions; similar skin lesions occurring later in life are referred to as livedo reticularis or livedo racemosa (see A CMTC-like skin appearance seen later in life at the end of this section).

The primary differential diagnosis for congenital isolated CMTC is physiologic cutis marmorata (CM). CM is a normal physiologic finding that is apparent at rest in a minority of newborns. CM consists of a homogeneous, fine, lacy, or reticular capillary change that worsens (or becomes apparent) with cold or emotion, completely (or nearly completely) resolves with warming, and usually fades by age four to six months. No ulcerations or skin atrophy are present. In contrast, while CMTC lesions often show changes with warming or strong emotion, the lesions do not rapidly resolve, regardless of the intervention. If complete or near-complete resolution occurs acutely with any intervention, the individual has physiologic CM, not CMTC.

Syndromic CMTC refers to CMTC or CMTC-like lesions associated with a known syndrome (see Table 3). Some of these diagnoses have early-onset clinical and laboratory findings that rule out isolated and classic CMTC. For others, adhering to the diagnostic criteria proposed by Kienast & Hoeger [2009] minus the "absence of venectasia" criterion or using the diagnostic criteria described in Establishing the Diagnosis should lead to correct identification of isolated or classic CMTC.

Table 3.

Syndromes of Known Genetic Cause in Which CMTC or CMTC-Like Lesions Are Present

Involved Genes /
Chromosomes
SyndromeGenetic Mechanism (MOI)Key Features / Comment
ARHGAP3
DLL4
DOCK6
EOGT
NOTCH1
RBPJ
Adams-Oliver syndrome (OMIM PS100300)Germline pathogenic variant(s) (AD, AR)Should be suspected in any persons w/CMTC in combination w/aplasia cutis congenita of scalp, terminal transverse limb reduction defects, complex congenital heart disease, or dilated, tortuous vein(s) on scalp
BRD4
HDAC8
NIPBL
RAD21
SMC1A
SMC3
Cornelia de Lange syndrome Germline pathogenic variant (AD, XL) 1Cutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected & is persistent (60% of affected persons); also assoc w/synophrys, growth failure, feeding difficulties, limb deformity, ID
CBS
MTHFR
Homocystinuria (See Homocystinuria Caused by Cystathionine Beta-Synthase Deficiency.)Germline pathogenic variants (AR)Cutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected & persistent; also assoc w/tall stature, ectopia lentis, DD
RASA1 RASA1-related Parkes Weber syndrome (See Capillary Malformation-Arteriovenous Malformation Syndrome.)Germline pathogenic variant (AD)Capillary malformations (sometimes reticulate or lace-like) ± overgrowth
POLE IMAGE-I syndrome (OMIM 618336) / FILS syndrome (OMIM 615139)Germline pathogenic variants (AR)CMTC-like lesions (often present at birth), IUGR, short stature, metaphyseal dysplasia, immunodeficiency, congenital adrenal hypoplasia
GNA11 Diffuse capillary malformation w/overgrowth 2Postzygotic (mosaic)Capillary malformations (sometimes reticulate or lace-like) ± overgrowth
GNA11 Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type V (phakomatosis cesiomarmorata)Postzygotic (mosaic)Should be suspected in any person w/CMTC & extensive or unusual & permanent common dermal melanocytosis (previously called "Mongolian spots") or other forms of uncommon dermal melanocytosis. 3 This is important to identify, due to the risk of melanoma in this condition. Multiple café au lait spots, often atypical, may develop over time. Hemihypoplasia & GNA11 mosaic activating variants may also be seen. 4
GNAQ Sturge-Weber syndrome (OMIM 185300)Postzygotic (mosaic)Capillary malformations (sometimes reticulate or lace-like) ± overgrowth; also assoc w/overgrowth of affected tissue
PIK3CA PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum Postzygotic (mosaic)Capillary malformations (sometimes reticulate or lace-like) ± overgrowth; also assoc w/overgrowth of affected tissue
Chromosome 13Patau syndromeTrisomyCutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected & persistent; also assoc w/cardiac, ocular, renal & brain malformations, & polydactyly
Chromosome 18Edward syndromeCutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected & persistent; also assoc w/IUGR & neural tube & abdominal wall defects.
Chromosome 21Down syndromeCutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected & persistent; also assoc w/hypotonia, specific facial features, & complex congenital heart disease

AD = autosomal dominant; AR = autosomal recessive; DD = developmental delay; ID = intellectual disability; IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction, MOI = mode of inheritance; XL = X-linked

1.

NIPBL-related Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), RAD21-related CdLS, SMC3-related CdLS, and BRD4-related CdLS are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner; HDAC8-related CdLS and SMC1A-related CdLS are inherited in an X-linked manner.

2.
3.
4.

Other types of syndromic CMTC

  • Cutis marmorata that is much more prominent than expected and is persistent may be seen in neonatal lupus (or any primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome).
  • Hypoplasia of an affected limb may be seen in "inverse Klippel-Trenaunay" in association with geographic capillary malformations, and in diffuse capillary malformation with undergrowth [Cubiró et al 2020] with patchy or reticulated, poorly demarcated, pink-red or light red-to-purple capillary stains.
  • Genuine diffuse phlebectasia (Bockenheimer disease)

CMTC plus. CMTC may occur in association with congenital anomalies or dysmorphism that precludes a diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC and does not fit with a known syndrome. Additional findings reported in such individuals include the ocular findings described below, which may also occur in other types of CMTC.

  • Ocular manifestations have been reported in 3.7% to 10% of affected individuals with any type of CMTC [Kienast & Hoeger 2009, Bui et al 2019] and were identified before age one year in more than 70% of those affected. However, unlike classic CMTC, individuals with CMTC plus with ocular manifestations also have other manifestations (see Other manifestations below).
    • Similar to classic CMTC, glaucoma (which is often congenital) is the most common finding. The latest reported age for onset of glaucoma is nine years.
    • Other ocular findings are also similar to what may be described in individuals with classic CMTC and may consist of retinal abnormalities (perfusion defects and vascular abnormalities), which were recognized on specific imaging in eight of nine cases [Dedania et al 2019].
  • Neurologic manifestations
    • Developmental delays and seizures were found to be the most commonly reported neurologic manifestations in CMTC of any type, along with a wide variety of other findings including skull shape changes, brain arteriovenous malformation, intellectual disability, hydrocephalus, corpus callosum agenesis, brain ischemia, microcephaly, and hearing impairment – some of which may be incidental associations.
    • Transient ischemic attacks and cerebral vascular malformations were described in association with a homozygous truncating variant in ARL6IP6 in a child with CMTC plus [Abumansour et al 2015]. Marked dysmorphism, brain atrophy, focal seizures, global developmental delay, hepatomegaly, and various dermal melanocytic lesions were also described in this child, raising the possibility that the child may also have had phakomatosis pigmentovascularis type V. Transient ischemic attacks (with or without seizures) and developmental delay have been reported in at least two other individuals with CMTC plus [Hinek et al 2008, Van Schaik et al 2015].
  • Other manifestations include cardiac defects (reported at a rate of 5.2%), genitourinary defects (4.6%), and abdominal defects (2.3%).

A CMTC-like skin appearance seen later in life is referred to either as livedo reticularis or livedo racemosa [Hartig et al 2020].

  • Livedo reticularis (LR) is net-like and uniform. Some authors divide it into four subcategories: physiologic LR (synonymous with CM); primary LR (usually as a result of embolism, thrombosis, or occlusion of arterioles as seen with multiple cholesterol emboli, vasculitis, and other disorders); idiopathic LR; and amantadine-induced LR.
  • Livedo racemosa presents with a less uniform, broken net-like appearance and irregular mottling, usually intensifying with warming. It occurs secondary to regional arteriole occlusion, such as in thrombotic/hypercoagulable disorders; with emboli such as gas bubbles in decompression sickness, cholesterol emboli, or crystals in calciphylaxis; or with vasculitis (e.g., Sneddon syndrome, COVID-19, etc.).

Management

No clinical practice guidelines for cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) have been published.

Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis

To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with isolated and classic CMTC, the evaluations summarized in Table 4 (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended.

Table 4.

Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita

System/ConcernEvaluationComment
Skin Full skin exam to identify areas of skin atrophy & ulcerationConsider referral to dermatologist.
Musculoskeletal/
Pain
Assessment for significant limb asymmetry, abnormal joints, or weakness in affected limbsConsider referral to orthopedist if gait is affected or leg length discrepancy is >1.5 cm.
Assessment for chronic pain & temperature dysregulationTypically seen in affected limbs
Eyes Dilated eye exam w/intraocular pressure measurement & peripheral vascular imaging (as soon as feasible)To screen for glaucoma & peripheral retinal vascular abnormalities
Genetic
counseling
By genetics professionals 1To inform affected persons & their families re nature, MOI (not typically inherited), & implications of CMTC to facilitate medical & personal decision making
Family support
& resources
Assess need for: Consider referral to psychologist for those experiencing social & self-esteem issues due to their diagnosis.

MOI = mode of inheritance

1.

Medical geneticist, certified genetic counselor, certified advanced genetic nurse

Treatment of Manifestations

Table 5.

Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita

Manifestation/
Concern
TreatmentConsiderations/Other
Skin ulceration Ulcer care may need to be less aggressive than other wound treatments.Since skin w/reticulate erythema does not heal like uninvolved skin, standard ulcer care is not typically sufficient.
A qualified ulcer team w/advanced knowledge in pain control is often required.Assoc pain may be severe.
Ongoing cleaning of ulcer bed is needed.Since these ulcers occur on already compromised skin, the length of time for ulcer healing may be longer than for other causes of ulcers.
Consideration of intense pulsed light therapy, which may → ulcer improvement & faster ulcer healing. 1
Persistent CMTC
vascular lesions
Frequency-doubled Nd:YAG, Q-switched alexandrite, & pulsed dye laser therapy may be tried but has mixed results depending on severity & depth of lesions. 2
  • Anecdotally, some children worsen w/this therapy.
  • Laser therapy is typically not needed; usually done for cosmetic reasons.
Chronic pain /
Temperature
dysregulation
Lumbar sympathetic blockade may be considered.Used successfully to treat chronic pain & marked temperature difference in an affected foot in 1 child w/classic CMTC 3
Leg length
discrepancy
Mild leg length discrepancy: shoe lifts or orthotics may be considered.
Severe leg length discrepancy: epiphysiodesis or limb lengthening surgery may be considered.Surgery should be performed before skeleton is mature (age ~14 yrs in girls; ~16 yrs in boys).
Weakness in
hypoplastic limb
Physical therapy
Glaucoma &
peripheral retinal
vascular
abnormalities
Standard treatment per ophthalmologist
Issues related
to physical
appearance
Treatment may incl:
  • Bibliotherapy to normalize differences;
  • Resilience training;
  • Training in strategies for dealing w/staring or unwanted attention;
  • Preparing parents to deal w/potential child abuse allegations.
Consider referral to psychologist.
1.
2.

The efficacy of this treatment has not been clearly demonstrated [Mazereeuw-Hautier et al 2002, Haidari et al 2020].

3.

Surveillance

Table 6.

Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita

System/ConcernEvaluationFrequency
Skin Close monitoring for early signs of impending ulceration of skinAs determined at initial eval
Musculoskeletal Monitoring of limb length & girthAnnually until skeletal maturity
Assessment for pain, weakness, & temperature dysregulationAt each visit
Eyes Ophthalmologic eval to incl measurement of intraocular pressure & consideration of peripheral retinal vascular imagingEvery 6 mos until age 4 yrs, then annually (throughout lifetime) 1 or when there is ocular pain or visible corneal clouding
Self-esteem Monitoring of coping skills related to visible differencesAnnually starting at school age

Agents/Circumstances to Avoid

Avoid blood draws or IV placement in affected limbs because of potential vein fragility.

Cold exposure of affected limbs may be painful for some people with CMTC.

Evaluation of Relatives at Risk

See Genetic Counseling for issues related to testing of at-risk relatives for genetic counseling purposes.

Therapies Under Investigation

Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.

Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling is the process of providing individuals and families with information on the nature, mode(s) of inheritance, and implications of genetic disorders to help them make informed medical and personal decisions. The following section deals with genetic risk assessment and the use of family history and genetic testing to clarify genetic status for family members; it is not meant to address all personal, cultural, or ethical issues that may arise or to substitute for consultation with a genetics professional. —ED.

Mode of Inheritance

Isolated and classic cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) are typically not inherited. Most affected individuals represent simplex cases (i.e., a single affected family member).

Vertical transmission of a GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been reported to date. Rarely, autosomal dominant inheritance has been reported in families with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC (i.e., families in which a GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been identified).

Risk to Family Members

Parents of a proband

  • Parents of children with somatic mosaicism for a pathogenic variant in GNA11 have not been reported to have any significant distinctive manifestations of the disorder, nor would such findings be expected given the somatic nature of these genetic alterations.
  • Only very rarely has a parent of a child with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC had any significant, distinctive manifestations of the disorder. Four families in which inheritance of isolated or classic CMTC appeared to follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern have been described [Kurczynski 1982; Lunge & Mahajan 2014; Author, personal observation].

Sibs of a proband

  • The risk to sibs of a proband with somatic mosaicism for a pathogenic variant in GNA11 would be expected to be the same as in the general population.
    Note: This is a relatively new area for clinical genetics as only a small (albeit growing) number of disorders are known to be caused by mosaic pathogenic variants. Counseling for sib recurrence risk in CMTC should emphasize that, while no pregnancy is at zero risk, all evidence suggests that the risk for recurrence is very low (<1%).
  • Sib recurrence in families with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC has been described but is very rare. Isolated CMTC was reported in two sisters, one of whom also had scleroderma [Andreev & Pramatarov 1979].

Offspring of a proband

  • All individuals with a molecular diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC have had somatic mosaicism for a pathogenic variant in GNA11, suggesting that mutation occurred post fertilization in one cell of the multicellular embryo. Therefore, the risk for transmission to offspring is expected to be less than 50%.
  • The risk to offspring of a proband with a clinical diagnosis of isolated or classic CMTC is presumed to be low but slightly greater than that of the general population (vertical transmission has been observed in only four families to date).

Other family members. The risk to other family members of a proband with a mosaic GNA11 pathogenic variant is expected to be similar to that of the general population.

Related Genetic Counseling Issues

Family planning

  • The optimal time for determination of genetic risk is before pregnancy.
  • It is appropriate to offer genetic counseling (including discussion of potential risks to offspring and reproductive options) to young adults who are affected.

DNA banking. Because it is likely that testing methodology and our understanding of genes, pathogenic mechanisms, and diseases will improve in the future, consideration should be given to banking DNA from probands in whom a molecular diagnosis has not been confirmed (i.e., the causative pathogenic mechanism is unknown). Note, however, that the genetic change causing isolated or classic CMTC may not be found in white blood cell DNA.

Prenatal Testing and Preimplantation Genetic Testing

Because vertical transmission of a mosaic GNA11 pathogenic variant has not been reported to date and clinically diagnosed isolated and classic CMTC is usually not inherited, the risk to family members is presumed to be very low. While prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) are possible in families with a known GNA11 pathogenic variant, prenatal testing and PGT are usually not indicated for family members unless they show features of the condition.

Differences in perspective may exist among medical professionals and within families regarding the use of prenatal testing. While most centers would consider use of prenatal testing to be a personal decision, discussion of these issues may be helpful.

Resources

GeneReviews staff has selected the following disease-specific and/or umbrella support organizations and/or registries for the benefit of individuals with this disorder and their families. GeneReviews is not responsible for the information provided by other organizations. For information on selection criteria, click here.

  • CMTC Alliance
    CMTC alliance is a world-wide non profit with a mission to help patient and families that have been diagnosed with CMTC and to aid other patients with vascular anomalies to achieve diagnosis and treatment
    3715 Wesley Chapel Road
    Zanesville OH 43701
  • CMTC-OVM
    CMTC-OVM is a worldwide non-profit patient organization that aims to improve the quality of life of people suffering from vascular abnormalities (blood vessel abnormalities), such as CMTC (‘Van Lohuizen syndrome’), and stimulate scientific research into these disorders.
    Kapelweg 154B
    Netherlands

Molecular Genetics

Information in the Molecular Genetics and OMIM tables may differ from that elsewhere in the GeneReview: tables may contain more recent information. —ED.

Table A.

Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita: Genes and Databases

Data are compiled from the following standard references: gene from HGNC; chromosome locus from OMIM; protein from UniProt. For a description of databases (Locus Specific, HGMD, ClinVar) to which links are provided, click here.

Table B.

OMIM Entries for Isolated and Classic Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (View All in OMIM)

139313GUANINE NUCLEOTIDE-BINDING PROTEIN, ALPHA-11; GNA11
219250CUTIS MARMORATA TELANGIECTATICA CONGENITA; CMTC

Molecular Pathogenesis

Isolated and classic cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) affects capillaries and venules. Pathologically, vessels are abundant and show tortuous dilatation. Capillary lakes, venous dilatation, and stenoses are also seen, and vessels may have an irregular intima and elastic lamina [Way et al 1974, Mazereeuw-Hautier et al 2002, Sahin et al 2006]. Skin biopsies sometimes show no findings [Petrozzi et al 1970].

Mosaic activating pathogenic variants in GNA11, such as Arg183Cys and Gln209Leu, are thought to cause disease by activating downstream growth signaling pathways: the p38 MAPK signaling pathway and the JNK and ERK pathways, respectively [Thomas et al 2016].

Research studies to elucidate the genetic architecture of CMTC currently are being conducted by Dr Beth Drolet at the University of Wisconsin, Dr Pierre Vabres at the Université de Bourgogne, and Dr Miikka Vikkula at the Institut de Duve, Université catholique de Louvain.

Mechanism of disease causation. GNA11 pathogenic variants appear to cause disease through a gain-of-function mechanism.

Note: No prenatal exposure or teratogen has been identified to cause isolated or classic CMTC. When four affected infants (3 with classic CMTC and 1 with isolated CMTC) who all lived less than 20 km from each other were diagnosed over an 18-month period in Australia, no teratogens meeting modified Bradford Hill epidemiologic criteria for causal association could be identified [Rogers & Poyzer 1982].

Table 7.

Notable GNA11 Pathogenic Variants

Reference
Sequences
DNA Nucleotide ChangePredicted Protein ChangeReference
NM_002067​.5
NP_002058​.2
c.626A>Cp.Gln209Pro Jordan et al [2020]

Variants listed in the table have been provided by the authors. GeneReviews staff have not independently verified the classification of variants.

GeneReviews follows the standard naming conventions of the Human Genome Variation Society (varnomen​.hgvs.org). See Quick Reference for an explanation of nomenclature.

Cancer and Benign Tumors

Pathogenic activating variants in GNA11, specifically the p.Gln209Pro pathogenic variant, is seen in close to 50% of primary uveal melanomas [Van Raamsdonk et al 2010].

Chapter Notes

Author Notes

Dr Tamburro is a dermatologist who has attended CMTC patient conferences for years to provide expertise to the CMTC community.

Dr Traboulsi is a pediatric ophthalmologist and clinical geneticist who cares for multiple patients with CMTC and is a team member with Dr Tamburro in the Cleveland Clinic Vascular Anomalies Clinic.

Dr Patel is a medical geneticist who has attended several CMTC patient conferences to provide expertise. He researches Adams-Oliver syndrome and sees patients with CMTC.

Acknowledgments

We thank the many patients and parents who have taught us over the years and the CMTC Alliance and CMTC-OVM organizations for their dedication to people with this condition.

Revision History

  • 9 June 2022 (ma) Review posted live
  • 19 July 2021 (mp) Original submission

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Figures

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita lesions and skin ulceration in an individual age nine years

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