Clinical Trial: BBD Longitudinal Study of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Brittle Bone Disease Consortium Longitudinal Study of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Brief Summary:

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare disorder that causes bones to break easily. People with OI may have broken bones with little or no trauma, dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), and, in adult years, hearing loss. It is seen in both genders and all races. OI can range from very severe to very mild. Individuals with the most severe type of OI may die at birth. People with severe OI who survive may have bowed arms and legs, very short stature and be unable to walk. People with the mildest form of OI may only break bones occasionally and have normal height and lifespan. People with OI also often have problems with the spine. The spine problems include compression fractures and scoliosis (a curvature of the spine). DI is characterized by grey or brown teeth that may chip and wear down and break easily.

Before the genetic cause of OI was known, OI was classified into four types. Each type was based upon the symptoms and severity of OI. In most people with OI, the cause is a change in one of the genes that makes a protein called type 1 collagen. In the past decade, it was discovered that in about 5% of people with OI it is in another gene. Some doctors now classify OI both on how severe it is as well as which gene is causing OI.

Our research aims are:

Perform DNA testing and collect natural history data on all individuals enrolled in this longitudinal study. The genetic cause of the brittle bone disease will be compared with things like severity, various features and response to treatments.
We will see how often people with type I OI have vertebral compression fractures of the spine. We will do x-rays to see how often they get compression fractures of the vertebrae, what happens over time and any risk factors that