National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Brachyolmia



The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 1293

Definition
Brachyolmia is a rare, clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of bone disorders characterized by short trunk, mild short stature, scoliosis and generalized platyspondyly without significant abnormalities in the long bones.

Epidemiology
The prevalence of brachyolmia is not known, but the disorder is probably under-recognized. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported to date. Cases have been reported in various ethnic groups. However, most cases with the Hobaek/Toledo type reported so far were of Turkish origin.

Clinical description
Four types of brachyolmia have been described: autosomal recessive brachyolmia, Hobaek/Toledo type, autosomal recessive brachyolmia-amelogenesis imperfecta syndrome, autosomal dominant brachyolmia, and autosomal recessive brachyolmia, Maroteaux type (see these terms). The age of onset is generally in childhood with short stature becoming more evident with age. The clinical manifestations are generally mild to moderate, with minor physical functional repercussions. Some patients report non-specific back pain. The disorder is not associated with intellectual disability. AR brachyolmia, Hobaek/Toledo type is characterized by short-trunked short stature with platyspondyly and scoliosis. Corneal opacities and precocious calcification of costal cartilage occur in rare cases. In AR brachyolmia-amelogenesis imperfecta syndrome, short-trunked short stature is associated with platyspondyly and enamel abnormalities. AD brachyolmia is a more severe form with significant short-trunked short stature, platyspondyly and kyphoscoliosis. Lastly, presumably autosomal recessive brachyolmia, Maroteaux type is a vague entity that has not been well characterized but may involve short trunk/short stature, generalized platyspondyly and rounding vertebral bodies.

Etiology
Mutations in the PAPSS2 gene (10q24) have been found in patients with AR brachyolmia, Hobaek/Toledo type, and in the TRPV4 gene (12q24.1) in patients with AD brachyolmia. Precise pathogenesis is not well understood.

Diagnostic methods
Clinical and radiological findings are used to diagnose brachyolmia. Molecular genetic testing can also be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis includes other genetic skeletal dysplasia syndromes, particularly mild spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, including mild type 2 collagenopathy and mild Morquio disease (see this term).

Antenatal diagnosis
Prenatal diagnosis is available on molecular grounds, when a mutation (or mutations) was ascertained in a familial case.

Genetic counseling
Brachyolmia follows either an autosomal recessive or rarely an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Genetic counseling based on the mode of inheritance should be provided to affected families.

Management and treatment
No specific treatment is currently available for this disease.

Prognosis
The prognosis for patients with brachyolmia is generally very good.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 3/1/2015

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Mild short stature 0003502
Short thorax
Shorter than typical length between neck and abdomen
0010306
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

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Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Brachyolmia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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