Craniometaphyseal dysplasia
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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Craniometaphyseal dysplasia is a rare condition characterised by thickening (overgrowth) of bones in the skull (cranium) and abnormalities in a region at the end of long bones known as the metaphysis. The abnormal bone growth continues throughout life. Except in the most severe cases, the lifespan of people with craniometaphyseal dysplasia is normal.
Description
Craniometaphyseal dysplasia is a rare condition characterised by thickening (overgrowth) of bones in the skull (cranium) and abnormalities in a region at the end of long bones known as the metaphysis. The abnormal bone growth continues throughout life. Except in the most severe cases, the lifespan of people with craniometaphyseal dysplasia is normal.
Bone overgrowth in the head causes many of the signs and symptoms of craniometaphyseal dysplasia. Affected individuals typically have distinctive facial features such as a wide nasal bridge, a prominent forehead, wide-set eyes (hypertelorism), and a prominent jaw. Excess bone formation in the jaw can delay teething (dentition) or result in absent (non-erupting) teeth. Infants with craniometaphyseal dysplasia may have breathing or feeding problems caused by narrow nasal passages. In severe cases, abnormal bone growth can pinch (compress) the nerves that extend from the brain to various areas of the head and neck (cranial nerves). Compression of the cranial nerves can lead to paralyzed facial muscles (facial nerve palsy), blindness, or deafness.
The x-rays of individuals with craniometaphyseal dysplasia show unusually shaped long bones, particularly long bones in the legs. The ends of these bones are wider and appear less dense than usual in people with this condition.
There are two types of craniometaphyseal dysplasia, which are distinguished by their pattern of inheritance and genetic cause. They are known as the autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive types.
Inheritance patterns
The source lists the following possible inheritance patterns: Autosomal recessive; Autosomal dominant. More than one pattern can apply in different cases.
Related genes
Other names
Autosomal dominant craniometaphyseal dysplasia
Autosomal recessive craniometaphyseal dysplasia
CMD
CMDD
CMDJ
CMDR
Craniometaphyseal dysplasia, Jackson type
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Further reading and references
- Craniometaphyseal dysplasia; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Addison WN, Azari F, Sorensen ES, Kaartinen MT, McKee MD. Pyrophosphate inhibits mineralization of osteoblast cultures by binding to mineral, up-regulating osteopontin, and inhibiting alkaline phosphatase activity. J Biol Chem. 2007 May 25;282(21):15872-83. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M701116200. Epub 2007 Mar 23.
- Hu Y, Chen IP, de Almeida S, Tiziani V, Do Amaral CM, Gowrishankar K, Passos-Bueno MR, Reichenberger EJ. A novel autosomal recessive GJA1 missense mutation linked to Craniometaphyseal dysplasia. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 12;8(8):e73576. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073576. eCollection 2013.
- Iughetti P, Alonso LG, Wilcox W, Alonso N, Passos-Bueno MR. Mapping of the autosomal recessive (AR) craniometaphyseal dysplasia locus to chromosome region 6q21-22 and confirmation of genetic heterogeneity for mild AR spondylocostal dysplasia. Am J Med Genet. 2000 Dec 18;95(5):482-91. doi: 10.1002/1096-8628(20001218)95:53.0.co;2-x.
- Nurnberg P, Thiele H, Chandler D, Hohne W, Cunningham ML, Ritter H, Leschik G, Uhlmann K, Mischung C, Harrop K, Goldblatt J, Borochowitz ZU, Kotzot D, Westermann F, Mundlos S, Braun HS, Laing N, Tinschert S. Heterozygous mutations in ANKH, the human ortholog of the mouse progressive ankylosis gene, result in craniometaphyseal dysplasia. Nat Genet. 2001 May;28(1):37-41. doi: 10.1038/ng0501-37.
- Reichenberger E, Chen IP. Autosomal Dominant Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia. 2007 Aug 27 [updated 2025 Aug 14]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1461/
- Reichenberger E, Tiziani V, Watanabe S, Park L, Ueki Y, Santanna C, Baur ST, Shiang R, Grange DK, Beighton P, Gardner J, Hamersma H, Sellars S, Ramesar R, Lidral AC, Sommer A, Raposo do Amaral CM, Gorlin RJ, Mulliken JB, Olsen BR. Autosomal dominant craniometaphyseal dysplasia is caused by mutations in the transmembrane protein ANK. Am J Hum Genet. 2001 Jun;68(6):1321-6. doi: 10.1086/320612. Epub 2001 Apr 16.
- Talbot J, Brion R, Lamora A, Mullard M, Morice S, Heymann D, Verrecchia F. Connexin43 intercellular communication drives the early differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells into osteoblasts. J Cell Physiol. 2018 Feb;233(2):946-957. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25938. Epub 2017 May 23.
- Zaka R, Williams CJ. Role of the progressive ankylosis gene in cartilage mineralization. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Mar;18(2):181-6. doi: 10.1097/01.bor.0000209432.36355.6e.
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