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$Unique_ID{BRK03749}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Forestier's Disease}
$Subject{Forestier's Disease Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis DISH
Vertebral Ankylosing Hyperostosis Spinal Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal
Hyperostosis Spinal DISH Osteoarthritis Spondylosis Ankylosing Spondylitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1991 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
826:
Forestier's Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Forestier's 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
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
DISH
Vertebral Ankylosing Hyperostosis
Spinal Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Spinal DISH
Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Osteoarthritis
Spondylosis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
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.
Forestier's Disease is one of the many forms of Osteoarthritis. Major
symptoms may include areas of bony overgrowth or bone spurs which usually
develop along the spine without breakdown of spinal discs.
Symptoms
In Forestier's Disease, areas of bony overgrowth or bone "spurs" develop,
most often on a segment of the spine anywhere from below the neck to the
lower back (thoracic and lumbar areas of the spine). Other sites may include
areas where tendons join bones (tendon osseous junctions) such as at the heel
of the foot. Occasionally Forestier's Disease affects the elbow.
Some patients may feel pain in the affected area(s). Occasionally, bony
overgrowths may place pressure on nearby nerves (nerve compression or
entrapment) causing irritation.
Uncommonly, Forestier's Disease affects the cervical (neck) area of the
spine (cervical DISH). This may cause the patient to experience difficulty
in swallowing (dysphagia) or speaking (dysphonia). This type of the disorder
is often seen in people who have Diabetes Mellitus. (For more information
choose "Diabetes Mellitus" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Causes
The exact cause of Forestier's Disease is unknown. Changes in cartilage may
cause the bony overgrowths to occur. This may be due to aging, trauma, or
"wear and tear" such as from sports. Disorders which involve disturbances in
cartilage metabolism such as diabetes mellitus or acromegaly, or certain
inherited connective tissue disorders may also cause Forestier's Disease.
(For more information choose "diabetes mellitus," "acromegaly," or
"connective tissue" as your search terms in the Rare Disease Database).
Affected Population
Forestier's Disease is a common subtype of osteoarthritis. It generally
affects men and women over the age of 50.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Forestier's
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Osteoarthritis is a very common degenerative joint disease characterized
by loss of cartilage, deformities of bones and joints, and thickening of the
surrounding ligaments and membranes at the joint margins with areas of bony
outgrowths. Osteoarthritis develops when cartilage repair does not keep pace
with cartilage degeneration. It may occur as a result of trauma to the bone,
aging, obesity, or other underlying diseases which cause damage to the joint
or its cartilage such as congenital dislocation of the hip or Rheumatoid
Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is suspected to be an autoimmune disease. In
these types of disorders the body's natural defenses against foreign
substances (e.g. antibodies or lymphocytes) attack healthy tissue for unknown
reasons.
Spondylosis is osteoarthritis of the spine. It is characterized by a
breakdown of the spinal discs in between the vertebrae; this does not occur
in Forestier's Disease. (For more information on disorders involving
osteoarthritis, choose "osteoarthritis" as your search term in the Rare
Disease Database).
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic progressive form of arthritis
primarily involving the spine and paraspinal structures. It is distinguished
by inflammation and eventual immobility (ankylosis) of a number of spinal
joints. Onset is usually gradual with episodes of low back pain, especially
in the region of the tailbone and hips (sacroiliac), and the lower (lumbar)
spine. Morning back stiffness often occurs. Symptoms commonly become
progressively worse, spreading from the low back into the mid-back and
occasionally the neck. (For more information on this disorder, choose
"Ankylosing Spondylitis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Rheumatoid Arthritis is also suspected of being an autoimmune disease.
It is characterized by lack of appetite (anorexia), tiredness, painful and
deformed joints, early morning stiffness chiefly in the hands, knees, feet,
jaw, and spine. Once affected, a patient's joints remain painful or
uncomfortable for weeks, months, or even years. (For more information choose
"Rheumatoid Arthritis" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Therapies: Standard
Testing for Forestier's Disease may include imaging techniques such as X-
rays, computed tomographic (CT) scans, or the use of a lighted instrument
with a flexible tube (endoscopy). Treatment may include anti-inflammatory
non-steroid drugs. Sometimes surgery to correct deformities may be
prescribed. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
Scientists are pursuing substantial research on all forms of arthritis and
other autoimmune diseases. It is hoped that better understanding of the
immune system will lead to improved treatments and prevention of degenerative
processes that cause pain and malformations that characterize arthritis.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
January 1991. 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 Forestier's Disease, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Information Clearinghouse
Box AMS
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 495-4484
Arthritis Foundation
1314 Spring Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 872-7100
Ankylosing Spondylitis Association
511 North La Cienega, Suite 216
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(213) 652-0609
(800) 777-8189
Coaltion of Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue
c/o National Marfan Foundation
382 Main St.
Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 944-5412
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th Ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Editors; W.B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 2039-2041.
DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS CAUSING ACUTE THORACIC
MYELOPATHY: A CASE REPORT AND DISCUSSION. A. Reisner, et al.; Neurosurgery
(Mar 1990; issue 26 (3)). Pp. 507-511.
DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS (DISH) OF THE SPINE: A CAUSE OF
BACK PAIN? A CONTROLLED STUDY. P. Schlapbach, et al.; Br J Rheumatol (Aug
1989; issue 28 (4)). Pp. 299-303.
DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS WITH DYSPHAGIA (A REVIEW). E.
Eviatar and M. Harell; J Laryngol Otol (Jun 1987; issue 101 (6)). Pp. 627-
632.
DYSPHAGIA DUE TO DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS. W. J. Shergy,
et al.; Am Fam Physician (Apr 1989; issue 39 (4)). Pp. 149-152.
DYSPHONIA CAUSED BY FORESTIER'S DISEASE. I. Gay and J. Elidan; Ann Otol
Rhinol Laryngol (May-Jun 1988; issue 97 (3 Pt 1)). Pp. 275-276.
RADIOGRAPHIC, CLINICAL, AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC EVALUATION WITH SURGICAL
TREATMENT OF FORESTIER'S DISEASE. J. G. Barsamian, et al.; Oral Surg Oral
Med Oral Pathol (Feb 1985; issue 59 (2)). Pp. 136-141.