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$Unique_ID{BRK03710}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Engelmann Disease}
$Subject{Engelmann Disease Progressive Diaphyseal Dysplasia PDD
Camurati-Engelmann Osteopathia Hyperostotica Multiplex Infantilis Paget's
Disease Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Myotonic
Muscular Dystrophy Becker Muscular Dystrophy}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
607:
Engelmann Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Engelmann Disease) is
not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Progressive Diaphyseal Dysplasia
PDD
Camurati-Engelmann
Osteopathia Hyperostotica Multiplex Infantilis
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Paget's Disease
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy
Becker Muscular Dystrophy
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Engelmann Disease is a rare genetic bone disorder. Major symptoms
include weakness of muscles, walking difficulties, pain in the bones,
excessive fatigue and poor appetite leading to a malnourished appearance.
Symptoms
Engelmann Disease is characterized by severe bone pain, especially in the
long bone of the leg (femur), and lack of normal muscular development. The
bones at the base of the skull, the hands and feet, and rarely the jaw bone
may be affected. Weakness in the leg muscles results in an unusual waddling
walk. There may be an accompanying over-growth of the bones near the eye
sockets which could result in loss of vision. Fatigue, headache, and poor
appetite may also be present.
Causes
Engelmann Disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. (Human
traits, including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the
interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father and
one from the mother. In dominant disorders a single copy of the disease gene
(received from either the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating"
the other normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The risk
of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is fifty
percent for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.)
Affected Population
Engelmann Disease is a rare disorder affecting males and females in equal
numbers. Onset is usually during childhood.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Engelmann
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Paget's Disease is a slowly progressive disease of the skeletal system
characterized by abnormally rapid bone breakdown and formation, leading to
the development of bones that are dense but fragile. The major symptom is
bone pain. It usually affects middle-aged and elderly people and most
frequently occurs in the spine, skull, pelvis, thighs and lower legs. Most
cases are asymptomatic or mild. Symptoms are often vague and may be hard to
distinguish from those of many other bone diseases. Bowed bones and
frequent fractures are caused by abnormally soft bones. Enlargement of the
head, headaches, sensation of heat, deep dull pain in the bones and hearing
loss may also occur. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Paget"
as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy is a rare, often slowly progressive
form of muscular dystrophy affecting the muscles of the arms, legs, face,
neck, spine and heart. It is usually first noticed in early childhood,
around the age of four or five, with the onset of slowly progressive muscle
weakness in the legs causing the child to walk on the toes. Shoulder muscles
eventually show a marked weakness and walking takes on a characteristic
waddle. Later the neck may be involved and the spine may become rigid.
Heart problems are a very prominent feature and may result in serious
complications. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Emery-
Dreifuss" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is characterized by damage to muscle fibers.
It starts in very early childhood or even before birth, but visible symptoms
of weakness generally do not appear before the age of two or three. Neck
muscles and the large muscles of the legs and the lower trunk are the first
to be affected. Over a period of several years, muscle wasting progresses to
the upper trunk and the arms, eventually involving all the major muscle
groups. Usually around the age of eight or nine, the child is no longer able
to stand or walk. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has an X-linked recessive
pattern of inheritance affecting boys almost exclusively. (For more
information on this disorder, choose "Duchenne" as your search term in the
Rare Disease Database).
Myotonic Dystrophy is an inherited disorder involving the muscles,
vision, and endocrine glands. It may also produce mental deficiency and loss
of hair. It usually begins during young adulthood and is marked initially by
an inability to relax muscles after contraction. Loss of muscle strength,
mental deficiency, cataracts, reduction of testicular function, and frontal
baldness are also symptomatic of this disorder. Tripping, falling,
difficulty in moving the neck, lack of facial expression and a nasal sounding
voice are among many symptoms that can result from selective muscle
involvement. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Myotonic
Dystrophy" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Becker Muscular Dystrophy is a late onset, X-linked type of muscular
atrophy. Usually developing in young men during their twenties or thirties,
it has a slowly progressive, relatively mild course. (For more information
on this disorder, choose "Becker" as your search term in the Rare Disease
Database.)
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of Engelmann Disease usually involves the use of steroid drugs such
as cortisone or prednisone to relieve the symptoms. Eye surgery to
decompress the optic nerves is usually ineffective and is usually not
recommended. Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their
families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
April 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Engelmann Disease, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
NIH/ National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 495-4484
For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 7th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1986. Pp. 227.
PROGRESSIVE DIAPHYSEAL DYSPLASIA: EVALUATION OF CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY.
Y. Naveh, et al.; Pediatrics (February, 1985, issue 75 (2)). Pp. 321-323.
CLINICAL AND SCINTIGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CORTICOSTEROID TREATMENT IN A
CASE OF PROGRESSIVE DIAPHYSEAL DYSPLASIA. L. A. Verbruggen, et al.; J
Rheumatol (August, 1985, issue 12 (4)). Pp. 809-813.
PROGRESSIVE DIAPHYSEAL DYSPLASIA (CAMURATI-ENGELMANN): RADIOGRAPHIC
FOLLOW-UP AND CT FINDINGS, J. K. Kaftori, et al.; Radiology (September, 1987,
issue 164 (3)). Pp. 777-782.