Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis

By: Hannah Howe http://www.google.com/imgres?q=treem an&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&tb m=isch&tbnid=RhMnK2TyRLZAfM:&imgref url=http://www.ibeatyou.com/blog/2009 /10/08/worst-person-give-prostrate exam/&docid=wG4 z_Yp8bz4NM&w=309&h=400&ei=rEyOTrWd NqaEsgLbrammAQ&zoom=1

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Scientific Description

* Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis, or EV, is a rare skin disorder that exposes patients to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The disease is linked to chronic infection of HPV. Skin eruptions of flat-to-papillomatous, wartlike lesions and reddish-brown pigmented plaques on the trunk, the hands, the upper and lower extremities, and the face. Malignant skin tumors (carcinomas), usually squamous cell carcinoma, develop on the patient with this disease.

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Description

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This disease causes warts and horns to form on the trunk, hands, feet, and face. They form due to exposure to the human papillomavirus.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=treeman&hl=en&biw=1 366&bih=613&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=RWwXp7yfhe5quM: &imgrefurl=http://www.weirdworm.com/tree man/&docid=tgEt1-3cK 5c5M&w=387&h=267&ei=YlSOTtbuD S3sQLjxbj2CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=554&vpy=182&dur=3 8&hovh=186&hovw=270&tx=141&ty=123&page=1&tbnh=12 3&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

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Symptoms

* Flat verrucous warts * Skin bumps on back of hand * Flattened warty skin lesions * Increased vulnerability to human papillomaviruses of the skin http://www.google.com/imgres?q=tree+man%27s+feet&h l=en&sa=X&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=H gMMvlB9t3j0uM:&imgrefurl=http://wallpaper wonders.blogspot.com/&docid=1o4sQYyXpUTSHM&w=620 &h=400&ei=fFeOTvHeGemLsQLe_e2WAQ&zoom=1&iact=h c&vpx=671&vpy=151&dur=129&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx= 120&ty=130&page=1&tbnh=127&tbnw=178&start=0&ndsp =20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

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Causes

* Doctors have linked genetics to Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis. Although this disease is rare, doctors say the person inherits the disease from their parents or it “runs” in the family. Another major cause of this disease is a horrible immune system. This disease is found in countries that don’t have the best of medical care.

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Cure for EV

* There is no cure for Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis.

* People diagnosed with this disease can: -have surgeons remove the warts, but need to be aware that the warts may go back -try chemotherapy and other drugs prescribed by a doctor -one case was treated with a combination of acitretin and interferon alfa-2a

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Worst Case Scenario

Before Surgery After Surgery http://www.google.com/imgres?q=treeman&hl=en&gbv=2&bi w=1366&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=bqF5H3N5BXlgvM:&imgrefu rl=http://allstateconstructionjobs.com/woman-is-the-spirit of-man-to rely/&docid=ZCIGx0kfAiMo2M&w=320&h=240&ei=Sl2OTrKtLqqz sALuy HFAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=941&vpy=149&dur=2183&hovh=1 92&hovw=256&tx=150&ty=114&page=2&tbnh=121&tbnw=151& start=22&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:22 * The worst case scenario for EV is that you are not able to use your hands or feet. Depending on how bad the case is the hands and feet can become very heavy and uncomfortable due to the warts. In Treeman’s case, he will need two surgeries every year to keep them from growing big again.

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FACTS

* Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis effects less than 1,000 people in the United States.

* This disease can be linked to the mapping of chromosome 17.

* EV is usually diagnosed when the patient is between the ages of 1 and 20.

* EV is more commonly found in countries with little medical treatment available.

* * http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1131981 overview * http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/medical/epidermodyspl asia_verruciformis.htm

* http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11464195 * Information was also pulled from the documentary Treeman: Search for the Cure that I found on youtube