Hypophosphatasia is a rare genetically inherited bone disease. It is characterized by weak bones and teeth because of lack of calcium and phosphate mineralization. Hypophosphatasia is caused due to low level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme. This enzyme is extremely important for formation as well as maintenance of healthy bone and teeth.
Cause of Hypophosphatasia:
Hypophosphatasia is a rare disease. It is a genetically inherited condition. It develops due to mutation in the genes that are involved in producing enzyme alkaline phosphatase(ALP).
Symptoms of Hypophosphatasia:
The signs and symptoms are varied and may develop during infancy or even adulthood. Usually severe form of this disease occurs before birth or during first few months of life. In perinatal hypophosphatasia, the fetus inside the womb develops non ossified bony spurs on skin. The child after birth has short legs and suffers from frequent seizure and breathing problem. The child survives only for few days after birth. Children and adult having milder form of hypophosphatasia may present with these symptoms:
- Weak bones leading to frequent stress fractures.
- Rickets
- Curved or bow legs.
- Delayed milestones such as walking
- Waddling gait
- Patient is short stature
- Improper healing of broken bones.
- Joint and bone pain
- Early loss of teeth, usually before the age of 5 years.
- Gum infection
- Weakness of muscles
- Joint pain and gout pain due to deposition of calcium in joints.
- Patient experiences difficulty in walking, standing and has to take assistance of crutches or wheelchair.
- Frequent breathing difficulty and lung infection due to rachitic chest. The chest silhouette is not well developed as a result, lung do not inflate properly after birth.
- Small skull size because the bones of skull close early.
- Seizures in children
- Kidney damage due to build up of calcium in kidney.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Hypophosphatasia is caused due to defective gene that regulates the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. It is characterized by weak bones and teeth besides additional symptoms. Diagnosis of the disease is made from the symptoms and alkaline phosphatase blood test. To conform the diagnosis doctors also recommend the patient for genetic testing.
Hypophosphatasia is not curable. The main aim of treatment is to reduce pain and other symptoms that may cause problem in daily life of the patient. Treatment includes:
- Pain killers
- Medicines to reduce the incidence of osteoporosis.
- Reduction of phosphate in diet. It is especially recommended among growth retarded children suffering from hypophosphatasia.
- Acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy also helps to alleviate pain and relax the muscles.
- If fractures fail to heal, surgery may be necessary.
Recently scientists have developed and introduced enzyme replacement therapy. Patients have reported significant improvement. However, further study of the therapy is necessary for its wider application and use.