1. Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Meaning: imperfect bone formation
Also Known As:
Brittle Bone Disease
Brittle Bone Syndrome

2. How Common is it?
A range of 25,000 to 50,000 Americans are affected by OI. This wide range is due to the fact that very mild cases of OI often go unnoticed and are not diagnosed.
Worldwide, about 1 in every 20,000 people have OI. Generally, it is a rare disease.

3. Q: WHAT IS OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA?
A: OI is a genetic disorder the affects the gene that produces collagen in your body. Collagen is a protein that connects tissues in your body. It also helps with the formation of teeth, ligaments, and sclera (white outer tissue of the eyeball).
SYMPTOMS:
multiple, frequent fractures
muscle weakness
joint laxity
curved bones
Scoliosis
brittle teeth
short stature
blue sclera
fragile skin
triangular head and face shape
respiratory complications
By looking at a person, you MAY be able to tell if they had OI by their abnormally small stature, the whites of their eyes being a blue color, they would have a triangular head shape, and could potentially be using a walker, wheelchair, or have casts on at the time. However, some people with OI have relatively mild symptoms and you MAY NOT notice that they look different in any way.

4. WHO? and is probable to show up in any racial group or ethnicity.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta is seen in both males and females….

5. How does OI affect a person’s life?
Based on the type of OI, a person’s lifespan could be affected very little, while it can also be drastically affected. There are 8 different types of OI. Similar symptoms may occur in all types of OI with varying severity. Different symptoms may also show up within the same type.

6. How does OI affect a person’s life?
CONTINUED…
TYPE I: mildest and most common form of disorder; does not usually affect lifespan unless a severely traumatic event occurs; most fractures occur during youth and adolescence
TYPES II and III: most severe types; infants with TYPE II commonly die during pregnancy or shortly after birth , however some with TYPE III may survive longer but with many disabilities and traumatic events
TYPES IV-VII: moderate forms of disease; lifespan not dramatically affected; more rare than type I and deal with different genes
TYPE VIII: more severe type similar to types II or III but some symptoms vary
*There is no certain reduced life expectancy, but with more severe cases of OI the probability of death from accidental trauma or respiratory complications is highly increased.
-Respiratory problems and accidental trauma are the most common deaths of people who have OI.

7. YES. Testing can take place to make a diagnosis if a person is showing symptoms of OI. Tests can also be planned for children whose families have been affected by OI. Testing and diagnosis is usually done during childhood, and a diagnosis can sometimes be made during pregnancy.
There is no cure for OI as of right now. However, there are some ways of dealing with the disorder. Biophosphonates and other medicines are used to make bones stronger and more dense, and surgically placing rods in the bones of the legs often help prevent major fractures. There are minor symptoms of the biophosphonates, including stomach upset and heartburn. On a regular basis, doctors and families focus on mobility and safe exercise such as swimming and physical therapy, as well as keeping fracture numbers to a minimum. Braces, wheelchairs, and casts are useful aids as well.
Methods of testing include:
X-Rays
DNA sequencing using a collagen sample from blood
Biochemical tests using a collagen sample from the skin
tests during pregnancy can be done through ultrasound and amniocentesis

8. Support Groups
The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation is a major organization that helps educate people about OI. It also gives reference to several people whom you can contact about local support groups near you.

9. Inheritance Patterns and Gene Location
35% of OI cases are a result of spontaneous mutations, while the others come from parents affected by OI or parents who are carriers.
Inheritance Patterns and Gene Location
Dominant or Recessive?
About 85%-90% of OI cases that are inherited are inherited in dominant manner. There are some rare instances where the disorder is recessive an autosomal however. The different inheritance patterns may also deal with slightly different genes.
The mutations that cause collagen problems can affect either the quantity of collagen or the quality of the collagen produced.

10. Inheritance Patterns and Gene Location
Continued…
WHERE?
The gene for Osteogenesis Imperfecta is located on chromosome 17 which has 81 million base pairs.
Chromosome 17                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

12. INTERESTING FACTS
*OI was recognized in an Egyptian mummy that is dated back to 1000 BC.
*Parents of children with OI are often accused of child abuse, which is why they are advised always to carry a document stating their child’s condition so that their kids aren’t taken from them at any point.
*OI does not affect fertility.
*The 2 forms of OI that are inherited recessively were discovered only 4 year ago.

14. oif.org genome.gov orthoinfo.aaos.org Dnarss.com Ghr.nlm.nih.gov
SOURCES