HEREDITARY GINGIVAL FIBROMATOSIS: REPORT OF FAMILY CASE SERIES

Abstract

Hereditary gingival hyperplasia (HGF) is a rare condition characterised by hyperplastic,dense fibrous connective tissue with acanthotic gingival epithelium. A family presentedat the School of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi with a complaint that someof the children developed swollen gums very early in life and that this got worsewith eruption of the permanent teeth. The first born, a 23- year- old male, had had theswellings for over ten years. Other siblings aged 5,9 and 12 years were also affected.The swellings had affected the appearance, speech and the psychosocial wellbeing ofthe children. The parents were unaffected with apparently negative family histories.Following oral examination and appropriate investigations, conventional gingivectomywas performed of the maxillary and the mandibular gingivae for the siblings: the 23-12- and the nine- year olds. The fourth affected child, a five- year- old, was still inprimary dentition and had just started showing mild signs of gingival hyperplasia.The histopathological examination of the specimens from the present cases confirmedfeatures consistent with those of HGF. This article highlights a familial presentationof HGF.