Sage
Introduction There are many conditions and diseases that can cause short stature. Some of these conditions involve a primary bone disorder -- the bones do not grow and develop normally. These conditions are called skeletal dysplasias or chondrodystrophies. People with disproportionate short stature often refer to themselves as dwarfs, little people, or short-statured persons. More than 100 specific skeletal dysplasias have been identified. Of these, achondroplasia is the most common. It occurs in all races and with equal frequency in males and females, and affects about one in every 25,000 children. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 individuals with achondroplasia in the United States. Signs of achondroplasia An individual with achondroplasia has disproportionate short stature: the head is large and the arms and legs are short when compared to the trunk length. This shortness is particularly noticeable in the upper arms and thighs. Other signs are a prominent forehead, a flat or even depressed area at the base of the nose (between the eyes), a protruding jaw, and sometimes poor dental structure -- the teeth are crowded and the upper and lower teeth may be poorly aligned. An adult with achondroplasia usually has an exaggerated forward curve to the lower spine, which presents a swaybacked appearance. The legs of a person with achondroplasia almost always become bowed and the elbows often cannot be straightened completely. Sometimes the person has limited twisting ability at the elbows. The hands are short, and the feet are short, broad, and flat. Another sign is "double" jointedness, caused by lax (loose) ligaments in some joints. Many achondroplastic children can flex their finger, wrist, hip, and knee joints to an extreme degree because of ligamentous laxity. These signs are usually apparent at birth, and achondroplasia can be diagnosed at that time in most cases. Intelligence is generally normal. Affected men average 51.8 inches in height, while women average 48.6 inches. There seems to be little or no relationship between the height of the parents and the adult height of their children with achondroplasia. Related physical conditions Children with achondroplasia may reach motor milestones of development slowly. For instance, good head control may not occur until the infant is three or four months old, because it take longer to develop the muscular strength necessary to control the large head. Though there are exceptions, many of these children do not walk until relatively late, often between 24 and 36 months. Ultimately, overall development is usually normal. Weight control is a frequent and lifelong problem for many people with this disorder. Both children and adults must be careful of their nutrition because they are prone to add excess weight. Children with achondroplasia have a tendency toward middle-ear infections in the first five or six years of life, probably due to abnormal drainage of the tube from the middle ear to the throat. The basic cause is faulty development of the bone structure. If these infections are not recognized and treated, or are resistant to treatment, the child may sustain significant hearing loss. Each infection should be treated promptly and the child's hearing tested regularly. Many children with achondroplasia require ear "tubes" for treatment of recurrent ear infections. Dental problems caused by overcrowding of teeth (especially those of the upper jaw) may occur. Malocclusion (poor bite) often results and makes good oral hygiene difficult. In addition to ordinary dental care, orthodontic treatment may be necessary. The large head seen in achondroplasia is often confused with hydrocephalus ("water on the brain"). Hydrocephalus may develop in achondroplasia, but it rarely requires surgical treatment. It is important to measure the young child's head circumference regularly to distinguish hydrocephalus from normal head growth. Young children with achondroplasia are at increased risk for specific neurologic and respiratory problems in some cases. These result from smaller openings in the skull, particularly at the foramen magnum (or "large window") at the base of the skull. In some cases, surgery is required to enlarge this opening and relieve pressure on the base of the brain and spinal cord. Common orthopedic problems in childhood include a reverse curvature (kyphosis) of the lower spine in infancy, and bowed legs, which may develop any time after children begin to walk. The spinal kyphosis usually resolves without treatment, but may require bracing or surgery if it persists. Bowed legs may be treated by bracing or orthopedic surgery. Older children and adults frequently experience fatigue, numbness, or pain in the lower back and thighs. Often these complaints are simple muscular problems that do not require special care. If they are persistent or severe, the person should be evaluated by a physician, perhaps a neurologist. Nerve or spinal-cord problems are common because of the narrow spinal canal, particularly in the lower back. Causes of achondroplasia Mutations (chemical changes) within a single gene cause achondroplasia. The condition may be passed from one generation to the next or it may result from a new mutation in a gene from average-sized parents. Nine out of ten children born with achondroplasia have average-sized parents, and no other family member is affected. A person with this mutation has achondroplasia; it is not possible to have a little bit of achondroplasia, or "only a touch of it" -- a person either has it or not. In 1994 Dr. John Wasmuth and his colleagues discovered that a mutation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 (FGFR3) gene on human chromosome 4 causes achondroplasia. The exact way in which mutations in FGFR3 cause achondroplasia is not yet known. Much research is being done in this area. Two average-statured parents have little or no chance of having more than one child with achondroplasia. However, an accurate and very specific diagnosis should be made to establish that the short-statured child actually has achondroplasia. The tendency in the past was to diagnose everyone of short stature as having achondroplasia when, in fact, they had any of a large number of other conditions causing dwarfism. Before accurate counseling can be provided, the diagnosis must be known with certainty. The inheritance risks in achondroplasia A couple with one achondroplastic spouse and one average-statured spouse has a 50% chance (one out of two) of having a child with achondroplasia and a 50% chance of having an average-statured child. If a child does not inherit an altered copy of the gene for achondroplasia, growth during childhood and adult height is expected to be within the normal range. Average-sized children of parents with achondroplasia are not at increased risk for passing the condition on to their children. If both parents have achondroplasia, there is a 25% chance (one out of four) of their having a child who inherits two altered copies of the gene that leads to achondroplasia -- one from each parent. These children are said to have homozygous achondroplasia, or "double-dominant" achondroplasia. This condition is almost always lethal in the first year of life. The chances of having a child with homozygous achondroplasia (who has two copies of the achondroplasia mutation) are summarized below, along with the chances for a child to have achondroplasia (having a single abnormal copy of the gene that leads to achondroplasia). My spouse and I do not have short stature. We have a child with achondroplasia. What is the probability that our next baby will have this condition? Answer: less than 0.1 percent, or less than 1 in 1,000. What is the probability that our unaffected children will have this disorder? Answer: less than 0.01 percent, or less than 1 in 10,000. I have achondroplasia but my spouse does not. We have a child who is of average height. What is the probability that this child will have children with achondroplasia? Answer: 0.01 percent, or less than 1 in 10,000. What is the probability that our next child will have achondroplasia? Answer: 50 percent, or 1 in 2. What is the probability that our next child will not have achondroplasia? Answer: 50 percent, or 1 in 2. My spouse and I both have achondroplasia. What is the probability that our children will inherit a single copy of the achondroplasia gene and have achondroplasia like us? Answer: 50 percent, or 1 in 2. What is the probability that we will have a child of average stature? Answer: 25 percent, or 1 in 4. What is the probability that we will have a child who inherits both copies of the achondroplasia gene (i.e., one from me and one from my spouse) and have "double-dominant" achondroplasia? Answer: 25 percent, or 1 in 4. Women with achondroplasia who become pregnant should have very carefully observed prenatal care by an obstetrician. Prenatal diagnosis is often possible. Delivery is always accomplished by cesarean section. Treatment At present there is no specific treatment to promote growth in achondroplasia. Growth-hormone treatment seems to increase the rate of growth during the first year of treatment, but may not increase adult height. Surgery to lengthen the legs and arms of people with achondroplasia is being done on an experimental basis in a few centers in the US, but it is not a common practice because complications are frequent and the process is long and arduous. Current therapy is directed toward preventing or treating complications of achondroplasia. The family physician, pediatrician, or internist, with the help of specialists such as endocrinologists, geneticists, orthopedists, and neurologists, can provide affected individuals with appropriate medical and psychological support. A great deal of research is being done on achondroplasia and other growth problems in medical centers across the country. It is important for children with achondroplasia to recognize that a wide range of occupational choices exists for them and that their condition need not prevent them from leading a full and satisfying life. Contact with other well-adjusted short people demonstrates these possibilities and encourages the child to "Think Big" (motto of the Little People of America). (all of this was found online somewhere. I forget from who, but wherever credit is due, then so mote it be.)