Asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is a very rare form of congenital dwarfism affecting the development of the bone structure, particularly of the chest (thorax) but also of the legs and arms. Typical, major characteristics include failure of the rib cage to develop correctly, kidney problems (renal failure due to polycystitis), and shortened bones of the arms and legs.
Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy (ATD) is characterized by insufficient growth of the rib cage (thorax) in newborns. The characteristic “bell-shaped” chest cavity results in the inability of the infant to breathe properly. Lung infections, high blood pressure, pancreatic cysts and the growth of too many fingers and toes (polydactyly) may also occur. ATD patients may also have insufficient growth of the pelvic bones and shortened long bones of the arms and legs. Breathing and kidney problems are the most serious complications of ATD.
The immediate problem in asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is the hardening of the endochondral bone in the fetal rib cage (thorax). Beneath this physical problem is a genetic cause, and although it is clear that asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, the faulty chromosome and the location of the defective gene have not yet been established.
Chromosomes, which are present in the nucleus of human cells, carry the genetic information for each individual. Human body cells normally have 46 chromosomes. Pairs of human chromosomes are numbered from 1 through 22 and the sex chromosomes are designated X and Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome and females have two X chromosomes. Each chromosome has a short arm designated “p” and a long arm designated “q”. Chromosomes are further subdivided into many bands that are numbered. For example, “chromosome 11p13” refers to band 13 on the short arm of chromosome 11. The numbered bands specify the location of the thousands of genes that are present on each chromosome.
Genetic diseases are determined by the combination of genes for a particular trait which are on the chromosomes received from the father and the mother.
Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits the same one normal gene for the same trait from each parent. If an individual receives one normal gene and one gene for the disease, the person will be a carrier for the disease, but usually will not show symptoms. The risk for two carrier parents to both pass the defective gene and, therefore, have an affected child is 25% with each pregnancy. The risk to have a child who is a carrier like the parents is 50% with each pregnancy. The chance for a child to receive normal genes from both parents and be genetically normal for that particular trait is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.
All individuals carry 4-5 abnormal genes. Parents who are close relatives (consanguineous) have a higher chance than unrelated parents to both carry the same abnormal gene, which increases the risk to have children with a recessive genetic disorder.
The incidence of asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is about 1 in 100,000 to 130,000 live births. Males and females appear to be affected in equal numbers, as do persons of various ethnic or racial backgrounds.
The presentation and severity of asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy may vary considerably. Even the degree of difficulty in breathing may vary from life-threatening failure to the apparent absence of distress at all.
Prenatal diagnosis is now possible through ultrasound imaging. A combination of breathing difficulties in the presence of a small, narrow chest, along with obvious shortened limb development, is usually sufficient for a diagnosis.
Treatment
The Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) was approved by the FDA in 2004 as a treatment for thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS) in pediatric patients. TIS is a congenital condition where severe deformities of the chest, spine, and ribs prevent normal breathing and lung development. The VEPTR is an implanted, expandable device that helps straighten the spine and separate ribs so that the lungs can grow and fill with enough air to breathe. The length of the device can be adjusted as the patient grows. The titanium rib was developed at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. It is manufactured by Synthes Spine Co.. http://www.synthes.com/sites/NA/Products/Spine/Screw_Hook_Rod_and_Clamp_System/Pages/VEPTR_and_VEPTR_II.aspx
For more information, please contact:
Synthes, Inc.
1302 Wrights Lane East
West Chester, PA 19380
800-523-0322
Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government website.
For information about clinical trials being conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:
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TEXTBOOK
Campbell RM Jr. Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:155-56
Jones KL. Ed. Smith’s Recognizable Patters of Human Malformation. 5th ed. W.B. Saunders CO., Philadelphia, PA; 1997:292-95
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Campbell RM Jr., Smith MD, Mayes TC, et al. The characteristics of thoracic insufficiency syndrome associated with fused ribs and congenital scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;85:399-408
Campbell RM Jr., Hell-Vocke AK. Growth of the thoracic spine in congenital scoliosis after expansion thoracoplasty. J Bone Joint Surg. 2003;85:409-420.
Das BB, Nagaraj A, Fayemi A, et al. Fetal thoracic measurements in prenatal diagnosis of Jeune Syndrome, Indian J. Pediatr. 2002;69:101-03
Kaddoura IL, Obeid MY, Mrouch SM, et al. Dynamic thoracoplasty for asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2001;71-1755-58
Ho NC, Francomano CA, van Allen M. Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy and short-rib polydactyly type III (Verma-Naumoff) are variants of the same disorder. Am J Med Genet. 2000;90:310-14.
Aronson DC, Van Nierop JC, Taminlau A, et al. homologous bone graft for expansion thoracoplasty in Jeune’s asphyxiating dystrophy. J. Pediatr Surg. 1999:34:500-03
Labrune P, Fabre M, Trioche P, et al. Jeune syndrome and liver disease: report of three cases treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. Am J Med Genet. 1999;87:324-28
Sarimurat N, Elcioglu N, Tekant GC, et al. Jeune’s asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy of the newborn. Eur J Pediart Surg. 1998;8:100-01
Chen CP, Lin SP, Liu FF, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (jeune syndrome). Am J Perinatol. 1996;13;495-95
Davis JT. Lateral thoracic expansion for Jeune’s asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia. Ann thorax Surg. 1995:60:694-96.
Yang SS, Heidelberger KP, Brough AJ, et al. Three Conditions in neonatal asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (Jeune) and short rib polydactyly syndrome spectrum: a clinicopathologic study. AM J Med Genet. 1987;3 (Suppl):191-207.
Oberklaid F, Danks FM, Mayne V, et al. Asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia. Clinical radiological, and pathological information on 10 patients. Arch Dis Child. 1977;52:756-65.
FROM THE INTERNET
McKusick VA, Ed. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Entry Number; 2085000: Last Edit Date; 12/8/2001
Chen H. Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy. (Jeune Syndrome) eMedicine. Last Updated: December 13, 2002: 10pp.
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