Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia: Introduction

Achondroplasia: Achondroplasia is a Greek word meaning "without cartilage formation" and is one of the most common causes of dwarfism. The appearance is of short stature with ... more about Achondroplasia.

Achondroplasia: A disorder characterized by problems with bone growth. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Achondroplasia is available below.

Symptoms of Achondroplasia

• Small body size
• Short arms
• Short legs
• Normal size skull
• Normal size spine
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 26 symptoms of Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Achondroplasia:

• Spinal symptoms
• Paraplegia #in 2nd or 3rd decade
• Dental malocclusion
• Strabismus
• Kyphosis
• Recurrent otitis media
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Achondroplasia

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Less Common Symptoms of Achondroplasia

• Hydrocephalus
• Narrow foramen magnum
• Spinal cord compression
• Stenosis of spinal cord
• more symptoms...»

Read more about symptoms of Achondroplasia

Wrongly Diagnosed with Achondroplasia?

• Failure to diagnose Achondroplasia
• Undiagnosed: Achondroplasia

Causes of Achondroplasia

Read more about causes of Achondroplasia.

Videos for Achondroplasia

Patient Surveys for Achondroplasia

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Prognosis for Achondroplasia

Prognosis for Achondroplasia: Usually normal life expectancy

More about prognosis of Achondroplasia

Reseach about Achondroplasia

Visit our research pages for current research about Achondroplasia treatments.

Clinical Trials for Achondroplasia

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Achondroplasia include:

• Issues Surrounding Prenatal Genetic Testing for Achondroplasia - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• more trials...»

Read more about Clinical Trials for Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia: Broader Related Topics

• Dwarfism
• more types...»

Types of Achondroplasia

Stories from Users Related to Achondroplasia

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• Faintness, dizziness and face ache...
• achondroplasia gene
• dwarfism
• Thighs ache
• 5 years of chronic aches and still no clue, any advice is appreiciated
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• groin and side ache

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Achondroplasia, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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Article Excerpts about Achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is a Greek word meaning "without cartilage formation" and is one of the most common causes of dwarfism. The appearance is of short stature with disproportionately short arms and legs and a large head. The characteristic facial features include a prominent forehead and a flattened bridge of the nose. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)

Definitions of Achondroplasia:

Hereditary disturbance of epiphyseal chondroblastic growth, causing inadequate enchondral bone formation and resulting in a peculiar form of dwarfism. - (Source - Diseases Database)

An inherited skeletal disorder beginning before birth; cartilage is converted to bone resulting in dwarfism - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Achondroplasia is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Achondroplasia, or a subtype of Achondroplasia, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Achondroplasia as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet