Last updated:
February 16, 2021
Years published: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1996, 1999, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2021
NORD gratefully acknowledges Michael P. Whyte, MD, Medical-Scientific Director, Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis and Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Genetics, Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO, USA for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Summary
Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by impaired mineralization (“calcification”) of bones and teeth. Problems occur because mineralization is the process by which bones and teeth take up calcium and phosphorus required for proper hardness and strength.
Defective mineralization results in bones that are soft and prone to fracture and deformity. Defective mineralization of teeth can lead to tooth loss. The specific symptoms of HPP are broad-ranging in severity, and can vary greatly from one person to another, sometimes even among affected members of the same family. There are six major clinical forms of HPP that range from an extremely severe “perinatal” (at birth) form that can cause stillbirth to a more common (“odonto”) form associated with only early loss of baby (deciduous) teeth, but no bone abnormalities. HPP is caused by changes (mutations) in the ALPL gene that produces an enzyme called tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Such mutations lead to low activity of this enzyme that should be breaking down a chemical called inorganic pyrophosphate that blocks mineralization. Depending on the specific form, HPP can be inherited in an autosomal recessive (among brothers and sisters) or autosomal dominant (multiple generations) manner.
HPP has remarkably wide-ranging severity. The six major clinical forms are separated based primarily upon the age when symptoms occur and the diagnosis is made. By decreasing severity, these forms are called perinatal, infantile, childhood (severe or mild), adult, and odontohypophosphatasia.
Generally, HPP severity correlates with how much alkaline phosphatase activity remains in the body, with less enzyme activity causing more severe disease. Because HPP has broad-ranging severity, it is important to note that affected individuals rarely have all of the symptoms discussed below, and that every affected individual is essentially unique. Some children have severe complications early in life; others have mild disease that may improve during young adult life. Parents should talk to their child’s physician and medical team about the specific symptoms and what the future might hold.
Perinatal HPP has very low alkaline phosphatase markedly blocking skeletal mineralization, including in the womb. Short, bowed arms and legs, underdeveloped ribs, and chest deformity are typical. Some pregnancies end in stillbirth. Some affected newborns survive for several days, but if untreated die from respiratory failure due to deformities and weakness of the chest.
Prenatal benign HPP at birth is much less severe than perinatal HPP and features bowed limbs. Skeletal deformity can be identified by ultrasound studies during the pregnancy. In this form, the skeletal malformations improve gradually after birth, eventually with the signs and symptoms ranging from infantile HPP to odontohypophosphatasia.
Infantile HPP may have no noticeable abnormalities at birth, but complications become apparent within the first six months of life. The initial problem may be the baby’s failure to gain weight and grow as expected, referred to as “failure to thrive.” Sometimes the skull bones fuse, called craniosynostosis, which can lead to a deformed head (brachycephaly). Craniosynostosis may also increase the pressure of the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) that surrounds the brain, a condition known as “intracranial hypertension.” This can cause headaches and bulging of the eyes (proptosis), and be detected at the back of the eye by swelling of the optic disk (papilledema). Affected infants have softened, weakened and deformed bones consistent with rickets. Rickets is a general term for the complications due to defective skeletal mineralization during growth with softening of bone and characteristic bowing deformities. Widened bones at the wrists and ankles may occur. Affected infants often have chest and rib deformities and fractures, predisposing them to pneumonia. Varying degrees of pulmonary insufficiency and breathing difficulties may develop, sometimes progressing to life-threatening respiratory failure. Episodes of fever and painful and tender bones may occur. Diminished muscle tone (hypotonia) is characteristic, so that the baby appears “floppy”, sometimes caused by elevated levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) that may also cause vomiting, constipation, weakness, poor feeding, and kidney (renal) damage. Vitamin B6-dependent seizures may occur. Sometimes skeletal mineralization improves spontaneously during early childhood, but if untreated short stature and skeletal deformities may persist lifelong.
Childhood HPP is highly variable, and severe and mild forms should be considered. Affected children sometimes develop craniosynostosis with intracranial hypertension. Skeletal malformations may become apparent at 2 to 3 years of age. Bone and joint pain may occur. Typically, one or more baby teeth fall out earlier than the fifth birthday. Some patients are weak with delayed walking, and then with a distinct, waddling gait. Sometimes spontaneous improvements occur in young adult life, but complications can recur during middle-age or late adult life.
Adult HPP too has wide-ranging signs and symptoms. Affected men and women have “adult rickets” called “osteomalacia”, a softening of the bones in adults. Bone pain is common. Affected adults may experience loss of teeth. Some have a history of rickets during childhood, or baby teeth lost early.
Fractures can occur, especially “stress fractures” in the feet early on, or subsequently “pseudofractures” in the thigh. Repeated fracturing can cause chronic pain and weakness. Spine fractures are less common. Joint inflammation and pain near or around certain joints due to the accumulation of calcium phosphate crystals (calcific periarthritis), or a condition called chondrocalcinosis within cartilage sometimes damages joints. Some affected individuals have sudden, severe arthritis called pseudogout.
Odontohypophosphatasia features early loss of “baby” teeth in infancy or early childhood, or unexpected loss of teeth sometime in adulthood. Here, the dental problems are an isolated finding without the characteristic bone problems of other forms of HPP.
Individuals with an extremely rare form of HPP called pseudohypophosphatasia have normal rather than low blood levels of alkaline phosphatase in the routine clinical laboratory.
HPP is caused by mutations in the ALPL gene. This is the only gene that causes HPP. Genes provide instructions for making proteins that have an important function in the body. When a mutation occurs, the protein may be faulty, inefficient, or absent, as in HPP. Depending upon the protein’s function, one or more organ systems of the body can be compromised.
The ALPL gene creates (encodes) a type of protein called an enzyme named TNSALP. Enzymes are specialized proteins that break down specific chemicals in the body. TNSALP is essential for the proper development and health of bones and teeth, and is abundant in the skeleton, liver, and kidneys. Mutations in the ALPL gene lower the activity of TNSALP, in turn leading to accumulation of phosphoethanolamine (PEA), pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), and inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). Inorganic pyrophosphate is an inhibitor of mineralization that controls mineral entry into the skeleton. Elevated PPi levels can block calcium and phosphorus from entering bone, and thereby cause elevated levels of calcium in the blood and urine. Generally, the reduction of TNSALP enzyme activity correlates with HPP severity (less enzyme activity causes more severe disease).
HPP can be inherited in an autosomal recessive (affecting siblings) or autosomal dominant (affecting multiple generations) manner. The perinatal and infantile forms of HPP are autosomal recessive. The childhood form can be either autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant. The adult form and odontohypophosphatasia typically are autosomal dominant disorders, but rarely autosomal recessive.
Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of a non-working gene is necessary to cause a particular disease. The non-working gene can be inherited from either parent or can be the result of a changed (mutated) gene in the affected individual. The risk of passing the non-working gene from an affected parent to an offspring is 50% for each pregnancy. The risk is the same for males and females.
Recessive genetic disorders occur when an individual inherits a non-working gene from each parent. If an individual receives one working gene and one non-working 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 non-working 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 working genes from both parents is 25%. The risk is the same for males and females.
HPP affects males and females in equal numbers. In Canada, severe HPP is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 100,000 live births. The overall incidence and prevalence of the various forms of HPP is poorly understood or unknown. Milder cases can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. HPP occurs with greatest frequency in the Mennonite population in Canada, is relatively prevalent in Japan, and seems to be rare in individuals with Black ancestry.
HPP is diagnosed by identifying its symptoms and complications beginning with a detailed patient history. HPP signs are revealed by a thorough clinical examination, and supported by routine x-rays and various laboratory tests including biochemical studies. HPP is often easy for physicians to identify for those familiar or experienced with this disorder. Understandably, however, most physicians have little or no knowledge of HPP. Consequently, affected individuals and families may face a frustrating delay in diagnosis. Now, genetic mutation analysis of the ALPL gene is available from commercial laboratories to support a diagnosis of HPP.
Clinical Testing and Workup
HPP is sometimes first suspected from routine testing of blood that includes assay of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Otherwise, signs and symptoms typically lead to routine testing and the low level of ALP stands out and is recognized. Individuals with HPP have reduced serum ALP activity for their age, except for extremely rare normal ALP levels in pseudohypophosphatasia. Identification of deficient ALP activity is consistent with HPP, but not diagnostic since a variety of other conditions can be the cause. Additionally, some individuals who are genetic “carriers” of HPP, but who do not develop any symptoms may also have low blood ALP levels.
Importantly, serum ALP activity varies by age. Healthy children normally have higher ALP levels than healthy adults. If the laboratory doing the testing only gives the normal range for adults, a diagnosis of HPP in a child can be missed because his/her ALP activity will mistakenly considered “normal”.
In the U.S. and elsewhere, a diagnosis of HPP can be supported, but not made, by measuring the blood level of the form of vitamin B6 called pyridoxal 5ʹ-phosphate (PLP). This test is performed by several commercial laboratories. Individuals with HPP have elevated levels because PLP is normally broken down by TNSALP. PLP is elevated even in mild HPP. However, some genetic carriers of HPP can have an elevated PLP. Blood and urine can be tested for increased amounts of phosphoethanolamine (PEA), another chemical normally broken down by TNSALP, yet some individuals with HPP have normal PEA levels and PEA elevations can occur in other metabolic bone diseases. Screening for elevated PLP is preferred over screening for elevated PEA because it is more sensitive, more precise and less expensive.
In severe HPP, specifically the perinatal and infantile forms, x-ray studies involving the bones can reveal diagnostic changes of HPP. However, these changes may not be recognized as HPP except by radiologists familiar with HPP.
Molecular genetic testing can support a diagnosis of HPP because it can detect mutations in the ALPL gene known to cause HPP, but it is only available as a diagnostic service at certain laboratories. The test can be expensive and often not necessary to diagnose HPP.
In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved asfotase alfa (Strensiq) as the first medical treatment for perinatal, infantile and juvenile-onset HPP. In the US, patients of any age with pediatric-onset HPP are eligible for this bone-targeted TNSALP replacement therapy given by subcutaneous injection.
Supportive treatments for HPP are directed toward specific symptoms and complications. Treatment may require a team of specialists. Pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, pedodontists, pain management specialists and other healthcare professionals may be needed for comprehensive treatment.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help bone and joint pain. NSAIDs require caution and monitoring for side effects (e.g. they can hurt the stomach and kidneys), especially in excess and if used too long. If craniosynostosis causes intracranial pressure, shunting or skull surgery may be necessary.
Vitamin B6 can help to control specific seizures in severely affected babies. Those with elevated levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) may need dietary calcium restriction, hydration, certain diuretics, and perhaps injections of calcitonin.
Regular dental care beginning early on is recommended. Physical and occupational therapy may be helpful.
Adults with recurring long bone fractures may need orthopedic “rodding” where a metal rod is inserted within the center cavity of a long bone to increase stability and strength. Special medical devices (foot orthotics) may help foot (metatarsal) fractures.
Patients should avoid bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used to treat other bone disorders such as osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates may worsen HPP or cause problems in individuals with undiagnosed HPP. Examples of bisphosphonate drugs are alendronate, ibandronate, pamidronate, risedronate and zolendronate.
Genetic counseling may be helpful for affected individuals and their families. For children with HPP, psychosocial support for the entire family may be beneficial.
Types of parathyroid hormone such as teriparatide have been given “off-label” to several adults with HPP complicated by metatarsal stress fractures or femoral pseudofractures, resulting in healing of the fractures. The drug is not permitted for use in children. More research is necessary to determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of teriparatide in the treatment of HPP.
Bone marrow cell transplantation has been used to treat severe HPP. One patient also received bone fragments and cultured osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells.
Preliminary short-term results have also been reported from the use for HPP of an anti- sclerostin antibody. Sclerostin is a protein found in cells embedded in bone known as osteocytes. Sclerostin helps to reduce (downregulate) osteoblasts. Antibodies that act against sclerostin have been shown to increase bone mass in osteoporosis.
For additional information regarding HPP contact:
Michael P. Whyte, MD
Medical-Scientific Director
Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis;
4400 Clayton Ave
St. Louis, MO 63110
Email: [email protected]
The Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis, Missouri is a unique research center that diagnoses, treats and investigates more than 100 rare bone diseases. The Center is known worldwide for its expertise in several rare diseases including HPP. The research team has led clinical trials for the new treatment for HPP (asfotase alfa) and they follow more pediatric and adult patients with HPP than elsewhere worldwide. The Center serves as a global resource for patients and physicians seeking information about rare, genetic bone diseases such as HPP.
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 web site.
For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:
Toll-free: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: [email protected]
Some current clinical trials also are posted on the following page on the NORD website:
https://rarediseases.org/living-with-a-rare-disease/find-clinical-trials/
For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, in the main, contact:www.centerwatch.com
For more information about clinical trials conducted in Europe, contact: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/
TEXTBOOKS
Whyte MP. Hypophosphatasia and How Alkaline Phosphatase Promotes Mineralization. Chapter 28 In: Genetics of Bone Biology and Skeletal Disease (2nd Ed). Thakker RV, Whyte MP, Eisman J, Igarashi T, eds. 2018 Elsevier/Academic Press, London, UK.
Hu JCC, Simmer JP. Hypophosphatasia. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:317-318.
Gorlin RJ, Cohen MMJr, Hennekam RCM. Eds. Syndromes of the Head and Neck. 4th ed. Oxford University Press, New York, NY; 2001:161-164.
REVIEW ARTICLES
Whyte MP: Hypophosphatasia: enzyme replacement therapy bring new opportunities and new challenges (perspective). Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 2017; 32: 667-675.
Whyte MP: Hypophosphatasia: aetiology, nosology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Nature Reviews Endocrinology 2016;12:233-46.
Millan JL, Whyte MP: Alkaline phosphatase and hypophosphatasia. Calcified Tissue International 2016; 98:398-416.
Ozono K. Enzyme replacement therapy for hypophosphatasia. Clin Calcium. 2014;24:257-263. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24473359
Whyte MP. Physiological role for alkaline phosphatase explored in hypophosphatasia. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2010;1192:190-200. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20392236
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Whyte MP, Zhang F, Wenkert D, Mumm S, Berndt TJ, Kumar R. Hyperphosphatemia with low FGF7 and normal FGF23 and sFRP4 levels in the circulation characterizes pediatric hypophosphatasia. Bone 2020; 134:115300.
Whyte MP, McAlister WH, Mumm S, Bierhals AJ. No vascular calcification on cardiac computed tomography spanning asfotase alfa treatment for an elderly woman with hypophosphatasia. Bone 2019; 122: 231-236.
Whyte MP, Coburn SP, Ryan LM, Ericson KL, Zhang F. Hypophosphatasia: biochemical hallmarks validate the expanded pediatric clinical nosology. Bone 2018; 110: 96-106.
Camacho PM, Mazhari1 AM, Wilczynski1 C, Kadanoff R, Mumm S, Whyte MP. Adult hypophosphatasia treated with teriparatide: report of 2 patients and review of the literature. Endocrine Practice 2016; 22: 941-50.
Whyte MP, Madson KL, Phillips D, Reeves A, McAlister WH, Yakimoski A, Mack K, Hamilton K, Kagan K, Melian A, Thompson D, Moseley S, Odrljin T, Greenberg CR. Asfotase alfa therapy for children with hypophosphatasia. JCI Insight 2016;e85971;1- 10.
Whyte MP, Greenber CR, Ozone K, Riese R, Moseley S, Melian A, Thompson D, Hofmann C: Asfotase alfa treatment improves survival for preinatal and infantile hypophosphatasia. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2016;101: 334- 42.
Whyte MP, Mumm S, McAlister WH, Mack K, Benigno M, Kempa LG, Franken A, Lim VT, Ericson KL, Coburn SP, Ryan LM, Wenkert D, Zhang F: Hypophosphatasia: natural history study of 101 affected children studied at a single research center. Bone 2016;93:125-138.
Whyte MP, Zhang F, Wenkert D, McAlister WH, Mack KE, Benigno MC, Coburn SP, Wagy S, Griffin DM, Ericson KL, Mumm S: Hypophosphatasia: validation and expansion of the clinical nosology for children from 25 years experience with 173 pediatric patients. Bone 2015;75:229-39.
McKiernan FE, Berg RL, Fuehrer J. Clinical and radiographic findings in adults with persistent hypophosphatasemia. J Bone Miner Res. 2014;29:1651-1660. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24443354
Taketani T, Onigata K, Kobayashi H, et al. Clinical and genetic aspects of hypophosphatasia in Japanese patients. Arch Dis Child. 2014;99:211-215. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24276437
Guañabens N, Mumm S, Möller I, et al. Calcific periarthritis as the only clinical manifestation of hypophosphatasia in middle-aged sisters. J Bone Miner Res. 2014;29:929-934. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24123110
Matsushita M, Kitoh H, Michigami T, Tachikawa K, Ishiguro N. Benign prenatal hypophosphatasia: a treatable disease not be missed. Pediatr Radiol. 2014;44:340-343. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24145968
Whyte MP, Leelawattana R, Reinus WR, et al. Acute severe hypercalcemia after traumatic fractures and immobilization in hypophosphatasia complicated by chronic renal failure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98:4606-4612. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24064686
Berkseth KE, Tebben PJ, Drake MT, et al. Clinical spectrum of hypophosphatasia diagnosed in adults. Bone. 2013;54:21-27. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23352924
Whyte MP, Greenberg CR, Salman NJ, et al. Enzyme-replacement therapy in life- threatening hypophosphatasia. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:904-913. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22397652
Sutton RA, Mumm S, Coburn SP, Ericson KL, Whyte MP. “Atypical femoral fractures” during bisphosphonate exposure in adult hypophosphatasia. J Bone Miner Res.
2012;27:987-994. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22322541
Wenkert D, McAlister WH, Coburn SP, et al. Hypophosphatasia: nonlethal disease despite skeletal presentation in utero (17 new cases and literature review). J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26:2389-2398. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21713987
Stevenson DA, Carey JC, Coburn SP, et al. Autosomal recessive hypophosphatasia manifesting in utero with long bone deformity but showing spontaneous postnatal improvement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93:3443-3448. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18559907
Whyte MP, Mumm S, Deal C. Adult hypophosphatasia treated with teriparatide. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:1203-1208. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17213282
Cahill RA, Wenkert D, Perlman SA, et al. Infantile hypophosphatasia: transplantation therapy trial using bone fragments and cultured osteoblasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:2923-2930. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17519318
INTERNET
Mornet E, Nunes ME. Hypophosphatasia. 2007 Nov 20 [Updated 2016 Feb 4]. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2021. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1150/ Accessed January 26, 2021.
Bacrot S and Mornet E. Hypophosphatasia. Orphanet. Last Update February 2020. Available at: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/Disease_Search.php?lng=EN&data_id=162&Disease_Disease_Search_diseaseGroup=Hypophosphatasia&Disease_Disease_Search_diseaseType=Pat&Disease(s)/group%20of%20diseases=Hypophosphatasia&title=Hypophosphatasia&search=Disease_Search_Simple Accessed January 26, 2021.
Correa Marquez RR and Behari G.. Hypophosphatasia. Medscape. Last UpdateAugust 7, 2019. Available at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/945375-overview Accessed January 26, 2021.
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