Bone Abstracts

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a clinically heterogeneous heritable connective tissue disorder. Most OI cases are due to mutations in type I collagen genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2 encoding the pro-alpha1(I) and pro-alpha2(I) chains respectively. However, genotype-phenotype correlation has not been completely elucidated yet. In this study we evaluated a familial case including a mother and a daughter, classified as OI type I. The daughter had more severe clinical featu...

Osteoclast-poor autosomal recessive osteopetrosis is characterised by susceptibility to fracture despite high bone mineral density as a consequence of an absence of osteoclasts. One of the 12 receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) mutations associated with this condition is a frameshift mutation encoding a protein that is truncated within the extracellular, N-terminal domain (R110Pfs). We investigated the effect of this mutation on osteoclast formation, receptor localisation ...

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a clinically heterogeneous heritable connective tissue disorder. Most OI cases are due to mutations in type I collagen genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2 encoding the pro-alpha1(I) and pro-alpha2(I) chains respectively. However, genotype–phenotype correlation has not been completely elucidated yet. In this study we evaluated a familial case including a mother and a daughter, classified as OI type I. The daughter had more severe clinical ...

In children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures can be observed at diagnosis and/or during treatment.This prospective study was aimed to evaluate BMD and bone turnover in patients with a new diagnosis of ALL, treated with an international protocol (AIEOP BFM ALL 2009) (*), based on high-dose steroids and chemotherapeutic drugs.Inclusion criteria wer...

Introduction: The clinical diagnosis of mild forms of hypophosphatasia [HPP], a rare genetic bone disease, is often made in adulthood, on the basis of persistently low serum levels of alkaline phosphatase [ALP], often coupled with signs of poor bone/teeth mineralization.Case report: A 50-year-old male on treatment with vitamin D supplementation because of osteoporosis of lumbar spine (T-score –3.2) and femoral neck (T-score –2.4), was referred ...

Objectives: Respiratory and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) complications are commonly reported in children with achondroplasia but little data is available regarding prevalence and outcome. In an unselected cohort of children with achondroplasia, we studied the prevalence of:•Abnormal cardiorespiratory sleep studies•Speech and hearing impairment</ce:p...

Background: Osteoporosis is a leading cause of morbidity in patients affected by β-thalassaemia major (TM) and intermediate thalassaemia (TI). Appropriate supportive care and identification of long-term sequels of therapy are important in thalassaemic patients. As low bone mineral quality (BMQ) in patients can be considered a marker of possible degeneration to osteopenia and osteoporosis in adulthood, we evaluated bone features in a young population followed at ‘A. P...

Objectives: Impairment of bone mass accrual and alterations of bone metabolism is a common finding in HIV-infected youths. In particular, previous studies demonstrated higher bone formation and bone resorption rates in HIV-infected children and adolescents. Wnt ligands promote bone formation by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and their survival. Recent studies demonstrated that sclerostin (Scl) and dickkopf factor 1 (DKK-1), Wnt antagonists, are important negative regul...

Osteoporosis is a leading cause of morbidity in patients affected by β-thalassaemia major (TM) and intermediate thalassaemia (TI). Appropriate supportive care and identification of long-term sequels of therapy are important in thalassaemic patients. As low bone mineral quality (BMQ) in patients can be considered a marker of possible degeneration to osteopenia and osteoporosis in adulthood, we evaluated bone features in a young population followed at ‘A. Perrino’...

Autosomal Recessive Osteopetrosis (ARO) presents early in life with extreme sclerosis of the skeleton, reduction of bone marrow spaces, hepatosplenomegaly, cranial nerves compression and severe growth failure. ARO is often lethal and at present the only therapy is HSCT, which should be performed as soon as possible in order to obtain a major benefit. ARO is genetically heterogeneous and delays in clinical diagnosis sometimes occur, due to its rareness and to the presence of co...