Osteopetrosis

Adult-onset osteopetrosis (Albers-Schönberg Disease)
X-ray of the pelvis of a patient with osteopetrosis, adult onset form (Albers-Schönberg disease). Note the dense appearance.
SpecialtyMedical genetics Edit this on Wikidata

Osteopetrosis, literally 'stone bone', also known as marble bone disease or Albers-Schönberg disease, is an extremely rare inherited disorder whereby the bones harden, becoming denser, in contrast to more prevalent conditions like osteoporosis, in which the bones become less dense and more brittle, or osteomalacia, in which the bones soften. Osteopetrosis can cause bones to dissolve and break.[1]

It is one of the hereditary causes of osteosclerosis.[2] It is considered to be the prototype of osteosclerosing dysplasias. The cause of the disease is understood to be malfunctioning osteoclasts and their inability to resorb bone. Although human osteopetrosis is a heterogeneous disorder encompassing different molecular lesions and a range of clinical features, all forms share a single pathogenic nexus in the osteoclast. The exact molecular defects or location of the mutations taking place are unknown.[3] Osteopetrosis was first described in 1903 by German radiologist Albers-Schönberg.

  1. ^ "Marble Bone Disease: A Review of Osteopetrosis and Its Oral Health Implications for Dentists". Cda-adc.ca. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  2. ^ Lam DK, Sándor GK, Holmes HI, Carmichael RP, Clokie CM (2007). "Marble bone disease: a review of osteopetrosis and its oral health implications for dentists". J Can Dent Assoc. 73 (9): 839–43. PMID 18028760.
  3. ^ Stark, Zornitza; Savarirayan, Ravi (2009-02-20). "Osteopetrosis". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 4: 5. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-4-5. ISSN 1750-1172. PMC 2654865. PMID 19232111.