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Osteogenesis imperfecta

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Brittle bone disease

Symptoms:

All people with OI have weak bones, which makes them susceptible to fractures. Persons with OI are usually below average height ( short stature ). However, the severity of the disease varies greatly.

The classic symptoms include:

• Blue tint to the whites of their eyes (blue sclera)
• Multiple bone fractures
• Early hearing loss ( deafness )

Because type I collagen is also found in ligaments, persons with OI often have loose joints (hypermobility) and flat feet. Some types of OI also lead to the development of poor teeth.

Symptoms of more severe forms of OI may include:

• Bowed legs and arms
• Kyphosis (S-curve spine)
• Scoliosis

Signs and tests:

OI is usually suspected in children whose bones break with very little force. A physical examination may show that the whites of their eyes have a blue tint.

A definitive diagnosis may be made using a skin punch biopsy . Family members may be given a DNA blood test.

If there is a family history of OI, chorionic villus sampling may be done during pregnancy to determine if the baby has the condition. However, because so many different mutations can cause OI, some forms cannot be diagnosed with a genetic test.

The severe form of type II osteogenesis imperfecta can be seen on ultrasound when the fetus is as young as 16 weeks.

• Review Date: 7/3/2007
• Reviewed By: Benjamin David Roye, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Division Chief Pediatric Orthopaedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, and Neal Sondheimer, M.D., Ph.D., Section of Biochemical Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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