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History of XP

Who is at risk?

Xeroderma Pigmentosum is not restricted to any country, background, or culture. The disease affects people of all ethnic backgrounds. In the United States an estimated 1 out of every 1 Million people suffer from XP, however people with Japanease backgrounds can be up to 6 times more likely to inherit the disease.

First Case of XP

Due to the manorism of aquiring the disease it is likely that there were numerous cases of Xeroderma Pigmentosum prior to the first diagnosis. Xeroderma Pigmentosum was first described by two professional dermatologist, Ferdinand Ritter von Hebra and Moritz Kaposi. They first described the disease in 1882 but the disease was not given its name, Xeroderma Pigmentosum, untill 1882, "Pigmentosum" stemming from "pigement" that is altered in people who have the disease.

General Statistics

  • When looking exclusively at Europe and the United States there is about 1 case per 1 million people

  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum is more common in the Middle East and Japan where ther is closer to 1 case per 40,000 people.

  • Although not evenly dispersed when looking at location, XP affects people of all genders and races equally

  • There is no known cure for XP

  • The average life span for someone with XP (and not any other health problems) is 37.

Interesting Facts

  • Neurological problems are pressent in 1 of 5 (20%) of XP patients.

  • Most children with unprotected XP develop a form of skin cancer by the age of 10 and can be diagnosed as early as the age of 4

  • For patitents under 20 years old there is up to 5,000X higher chance of develpoing skin cancer

  • In the 20% of cases a neurological problem is present the average life span drops to 29 years old.

  • There are currently 8 recognized forms of inherrited XP

 

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