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Published on: July 17, 2020
Benign prenatal hypophosphatasia: a treatable disease not to be missed
Masaki Matsushita1, Hiroshi Kitoh, Toshimi Michigami
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
Insights
A rare benign form of prenatal hypophosphatasia, characterized by bone bowing, can present prenatally but improve postnatally. Genetic testing confirmed mutations in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prenatal bowing of long bones is typically linked to severe skeletal dysplasias.
- Differentiating benign from severe conditions is crucial for appropriate management.
Observation:
- A case is presented of a newborn with significant long bone bowing and shortening.
- Fetal imaging revealed normal skeletal mineralization and body circumferences, contrasting with limb anomalies.
Findings:
- Biochemical tests showed decreased serum alkaline phosphatase and elevated urine phosphoethanolamine.
- Genetic analysis identified compound heterozygous mutations in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene.
- These findings confirmed a diagnosis of benign prenatal hypophosphatasia.
Implications:
- This case highlights benign prenatal hypophosphatasia as a differential diagnosis for congenital long bone bowing.
- Recognizing this milder form can prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions for severe skeletal dysplasias.
Abstract:
Prenatal bowing of the long bones is often associated with severe bone dysplasias. We report a child who presented marked bowing of the long bones at birth but showed a relatively benign postnatal course with spontaneous improvement of bowing. The fetal imaging showed normal skeletal mineralization and normal chest and abdominal circumferences despite the limb bowing and shortening. Decreased serum alkaline phosphatase activity and elevated urine phosphoethanolamine was biochemically evident, and compound heterozygous mutations in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene were identified, which confirmed the diagnosis of a benign form of prenatal hypophosphatasia. Benign prenatal hypophosphatasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of congenital bowing of the long bones.
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