FOP Disease – Causes and Prognosis
There are many questions surrounding FOP disease, such as: Is it fatal? What is the life expectancy of a patient with this disorder? What causes FOP? And is there a cure? Let’s take a look at the facts. This article provides an overview of the causes and prognosis of this disease.
Is FOP disease fatal?
The main symptom of FOP disease is the formation of bone that replaces soft tissue. This process starts at a very young age, usually as tumorlike growths that become bone. It can spread throughout the body. It is often fatal for the patient. Genetic tests are not always able to diagnose the disease, however, and doctors cannot predict how the disease will progress.
Treatment for FOP is aimed at alleviating symptoms and reducing disability. There is no cure for this condition, but it can improve quality of life and can prevent a flare-up. Sadly, it can progress very quickly and most people affected by the condition will require a wheelchair by the time they reach their late twenties.
What is the life expectancy for FOP?
FOP, also known as myositis ossificans progressiva, is a disabling condition caused by bony bars within the muscles. It affects one in every million people and occurs equally among men and women. Typically, sufferers have a good overall health but their life expectancy is significantly reduced.
Although there is no single cause for FOP, there are several treatments that have shown some promise. However, many of these treatments are experimental and haven’t been proven to be 100% effective. Patients with FOP should undergo regular imaging tests and undergo genetic testing to confirm a diagnosis. Most patients with FOP will have at least one episode of the condition, and they may be unable to live a normal life for several months.
Because FOP is chronic and progressive, it is difficult to predict its course. It can progress rapidly or slowly, depending on the severity and type of treatment. In the developed world, approximately one in two million people suffer from the disease. In the United States, there are just over 700 people living with FOP. The disease is often fatal, with a median life expectancy of 40 years.
What causes FOP disease?
A person with FOP disease has bones that have a poor blood flow and grow abnormally. The disease starts in childhood and usually affects the neck and shoulders. The body’s natural aging process replaces soft tissue with bone, but in some cases, the bone growth can’t keep up with the growth rate. The main cause of FOP is a mutation in the ACVR1 gene, which helps the body make and repair bones.
The abnormal growth of bones in the joints of the affected limbs leads to stiffness and limited movement. Individuals with FOP may also experience pain, usually due to entrapped nerves or bony growths. As a result of the limited movement, they experience problems with balance and coordination, which makes them more vulnerable to injury. They may also have respiratory infections and right-sided heart failure. In addition, FOP patients often experience hearing impairment.
Is FOP disease curable?
Although there are currently no drugs that are effective in curing FOP disease, it is possible to reduce the severity of symptoms with the right therapy. Early diagnosis is crucial, since symptoms may develop during pregnancy or at any time. If the condition is undiagnosed, doctors may recommend avoiding physical activities that increase the risk of a flare-up. Moreover, pregnant women should avoid performing physical activities that increase their risk of FOP, as this condition is extremely dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child.
Although patients with FOP disease have a tendency to be normal, they can develop congenital great toe deformities during the early stages of the disease. Fifty percent of flare-ups are caused by trauma, intramuscular injections, or muscle strain, especially during the first decade of life. During this time, the ossification of the muscles is abnormal, which may result in noticeable swelling and pain. Fortunately, medications and surgery can help alleviate the initial symptoms of FOP disease.
Can you get FOP at any age?
FOP is a progressive genetic bone disease that affects the joints of the body. It results in the growth of second skeletons, which gradually lock the joints in place. By the time a person reaches adulthood, he or she is confined to a wheelchair and requires caregiving assistance.
It often develops in early childhood and usually begins around the neck and shoulders. As a person gets older, bone replaces more soft tissue, but the rate of replacement is different for different people. FOP is caused by a faulty gene that tells the body how to make bones. The faulty gene leads to abnormal bone growth. It usually develops by age five, but in some people it starts at a very young age.
