Heart disease in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta - A systematic review

Hamoun Ashournia1, Frank Ted Johansen2, Lars Folkestad3

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Insights

Patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) show an increased risk of heart disease, particularly valvulopathies and aortic dilation. This systematic review highlights the cardiovascular implications of this rare connective tissue disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Connective Tissue Diseases

Background:

  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare inherited disorder affecting collagen type 1 bioavailability.
  • While bone manifestations are well-documented, the impact of OI on other organs, including the heart, is less understood.
  • Collagen type 1 is integral to cardiac structures like valves and the interventricular septum, suggesting potential cardiac involvement in OI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the literature and assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) compared to healthy individuals.
  • To identify specific cardiovascular conditions associated with OI.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and key scientific meeting proceedings.
  • Studies were included if they described cardiovascular disease in at least one patient with OI and were published in English or had an English abstract.
  • Data extraction followed a predefined protocol from 68 selected studies, encompassing case reports, case series, and cross-sectional studies.

Main Results:

  • The review included 68 studies covering 499 patients over 45 years.
  • The most frequently reported cardiovascular issues in OI patients were valvulopathies and increased aortic diameter.
  • Findings from large case series and cross-sectional studies were consistent.

Conclusions:

  • The evidence supports an elevated risk of heart disease in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) compared to controls.
  • It is biologically plausible that OI contributes to an increased incidence of cardiovascular conditions, especially heart valve disease.
Abstract

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