骨硬化症

Osteopetrosis is group of a rare disorders that cause bones to grow abnormally and become overly dense. When bones become overly dense, they are brittle and can fracture (break) easily. In addition, bones may be misshapen and large, causing other problems in the body. For example, changes to the bone size and density of the skull can cause pressure on nerves leading to vision loss, hearing loss, and paralysis of the facial muscles. As bone increases in size, the amount of space for the bone marrow (soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of most bones that produces blood cells) becomes crowded. Decreases in the amount of space for bone marrow can lead to low levels of cells in the body that fight infection, carry oxygen to the body’s cells, or control bleeding. Osteopetrosis are genetic diseases that a child inherits from their parents. The disorder may be mild to severe, and symptoms may appear early in infancy or later in adulthood. The treatment options depend on the type of osteopetrosis the person has.