Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a disease encompassing a group of disorders mainly characterized by bone fragility and is the commonest form of heritable bone fragility. In this book, the clinical presentations with particular emphasis on rare phenotypes associated with OI are discussed together with molecular advances in diagnosis and treatment of OI. There is a broad spectrum of clinical severity in OI, ranging from multiple fractures in utero and perinatal death, to near-normal adult stature and low fracture incidence. Facial dysmorphism has been noted, but is not well described, nor is it an invariable feature. Sillence et al., in 1979, provided the clinical classification, which has been further expanded. Genetic defects in type 1 collagen can be identified in 85% of patients with a clinical diagnosis of OI, that is, mutations in COL1A1/COL1A2, which follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Several genes have now been implicated in autosomal recessive forms of OI and X-linked osteoporosis. Given the possible antenatal presentation and prognosis associated with OI, it is important to make this diagnosis early and be able to distinguish this from other lethal skeletal dysplasias. It is also important to distinguish nonaccidental injury from a pathological cause of fractures, such as OI, and diagnose this promptly in these situations. However, this is not always possible due to variability in presentation and inability to pinpoint the precise genetic etiology despite extensive genetic testing. OI is one such rare genetic condition where treatment is available in the form of bisphosphonates, which has a huge impact on quality of life. Despite advances in medical therapy, multidisciplinary management including physiotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment and improved outcomes in OI.
Balasubramanian, Meena: -
Dr Meena Balasubramanian (MBBS, DCH, FRCPCH, MD) is a Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Sheffield; she is the Lead Geneticist for the Highly specialised, severe, complex and atypical Osteogenesis Imperfecta national service. She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield.
Dr Balasubramanian completed her Paediatric training before undertaking specialist training in Clinical Genetics in Southampton and Sheffield. Her MD is on atypical presentations of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) obtained from the University of Sheffield in 2012. She has led several projects focused on genetics of OI and currently pursuing research projects focussed on identifying novel genetic causes in OI, phenotypic associations and exploring newer targets for therapy for OI. She has close links with patient support groups including Brittle Bone Society and has been invited to speak at their annual conferences.
Dr Balasubramanian's other areas of specialism, include Genetics in autism & Paediatric Dysmorphology. She has published several first and senior-author publications in OI and in these areas.
Kumar, Dhavendra: -
Professor Dhavendra Kumar is Consultant in Clinical Genetics at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff University, UK. He is the Visiting Professor to the Genomic Policy Research Unit, the University of Glamorgan, UK; and Adjunct Professor to the Public Health Genetics Unit at the Chinese Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. He is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics (FACMG), as well as the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London (FRCP); Ireland (FRCPI) & Paediatrics and Child Health (FRCPCH, UK). He serves on the Council of the Human Genome Organization and is the founding editor of The HUGO Journal.
He has authored/edited Genetic disorders of the Indian Subcontinent (2004); Genomics and Clinical Medicine (2008); Principles and Practice of Clinical Cardiovascular Genetics (2010); Oxford Specialist Handbook on Inherited Cardiac Disease (2011); and Genomics and Health of the Developing World (2012). He is the Founder/Editor in Chief of Applied and Translational Genomics, a new open access biomedical genomics journal. He founded and leads the e-book series on Genomic and Molecular Medicine (Morgan and Claypool Life Sciences).
In addition to his professional commitment to clinical genetics & cardiovascular genetics, he is passionate about the applications of genomics in medicine, public/population health, and biotechnology/bio-economy. He actively pursues promotion and collaboration for genetics/genomics in healthcare and socio-economic benefits across the developing world through establishing professional networks of joint public-private partnership.
