Fibrogenesis imperfecta ossium

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1995 Sep;77(5):820-9.

Abstract

The clinical features, investigation, treatment and outcome of two adults with fibrogenesis imperfecta ossium are described. In this rare acquired disorder of bone, normal lamellar collagen is replaced by structurally unsound collagen-deficient tissue, which leads to extreme bone fragility and ununited fractures. Transmission microscopy and SEM showed striking ultrastructural changes in bone structure and mineralisation. Both patients had monoclonal IgG paraproteins in the plasma and one excreted monoclonal lambda light chains in the urine. No abnormal plasma cells were found in the bone marrow and there was no evidence of amyloid deposition in the tissues. In both patients initial treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol appeared to be ineffective, but in one, repeated courses of melphalan and corticosteroids over three years together with 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol produced striking clinical and histological improvement. The findings in these and other patients strongly suggest that paraproteinaemia is an integral feature of fibrogenesis imperfecta ossium, and this needs further investigation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bone Diseases / drug therapy
  • Bone Diseases / etiology
  • Bone and Bones / pathology
  • Child
  • Collagen / ultrastructure
  • Collagen Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Collagen Diseases / drug therapy
  • Collagen Diseases / etiology
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxycholecalciferols / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Melphalan / therapeutic use
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraproteinemias / complications
  • Tendons / chemistry

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Hydroxycholecalciferols
  • Collagen
  • Melphalan
  • alfacalcidol