THANATOPHORIC DYSPLASIA

Scientifically reviewed | Last updated January 25, 2024
For more information see our editorial policy

FGFR3

Thanatophoric dysplasia is a severe skeletal disorder characterized by severe dysproportional short stature, shortened extremeties, a narrow thorax and macrocephalus. It is typically fatal during the perinatal period. Thanatophoric dysplasia has two forms, type I and type II. The main symptoms are extremely short limbs and folds of extra skin on the arms and legs. The disease is caused by pathogenic variants in the FGFR3 gene.

 

 

Also called

Thanatotropic dysplasia is also known as:

 

 

  • Dwarf, thanatophoric
  • Thanatophoric dwarfism
  • Thanatophoric short stature
  • TD

 

 

Symptoms

In type I thanatophoric dysplasia, curved thigh-bones and flattened bones of the spine (platyspondyly) are observed. Type II thanatophoric dysplasia is distinguished by straight thigh-bones and a cranial abnormality known as cloverleaf skull, ranging from moderate to severe.

 

Other symptoms of TD may include:

 

  • Short limbs
  • Fold of extra skin on the arms and legs
  • Narrow chest
  • Short ribs
  • Underdeveloped lungs
  • Enlarged head
  • Wide-spaced eyes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frequency

The frequency of TD is estimated to be 1 in 20,000 to 40,000 newborns. Type I thanatophoric dysplasia is the most prevalent form of this condition.

 

 

Causes

TD is caused by mutations in the FGFR3 gene, whereby different variants can cause different manifestations of the disease.

 

TD1 can be caused, for example, by amino acid substitutions in the extracellular or intracellular domain of the protein. Examples of the extracellular domain are the two common variants R248C and Y373C. However, variants affecting the stop codon have also been reported, which lead to an elongation of the protein. Homozygosity for a variant associated with achondroplasia also leads to the TD phenotype.

 

The only relevant change in TD2 (FGFR3-K650E) is detectable in almost all TD2 cases. However, variants can also occur in the same codon of the FGFR3 gene that are associated with a less severe form of the disease, SADDAN dysplasia, or with the mildest form of FGFR3 disease, hypochondroplasia. This suggests that there is a different degree of change in the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor depending on the amino acid exchange (genotype-phenotype relationship).

 

 

Inheritance

TD syndrome is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that if one parent carries one mutated copy of the FGFR3 gene, it can cause TD syndrome in the offspring. It can also be caused by dominant new mutations.

 

 

Differential diagnosis

Syndromes with similar symptoms to TD include Achondroplasia, Hypochondroplasia, Crouzon syndrome, Familial acanthosis nigricans, Muenke syndrome, LADD syndrome, Camptodactyly, tall stature and hearing loss syndrome.

 

 

Treatment

Currently, there is no cure for thanatotropic dysplasia, and most affected individuals usually die in the first few hours of life due to the disorder's multisystem complications. However, there are patients who live to be several years old. Long-term survivors will require long-term respiratory support, neurological surveillance as well as developmental, orthopedic, and audiology evaluations.

 

 

References

Thanatophoric Dysplasia: MedlinePlus Genetics.” Medlineplus.gov, www.medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/thanatophoric-dysplasia/ Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.

 

French, Tegan, and Ravi Savarirayan. “Thanatophoric Dysplasia.” PubMed, University of Washington, Seattle, 1993, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1366/#td.Differential_Diagnosis

 

GENES

FGFR3

HOW CAN YOU GET TESTED?
Step 1: Visit healthcare professional
Step 2: Sample collection (blood or buccal swab)
Step 3: Sequencing performed at our accredited laboratory
Step 4: Medical report
Step 5: Genetic counselling
FAQ

How is TD syndrome diagnosed?

What causes thanatotophoric dysplasia?

What is the difference between thanatotophoric dysplasia type I and type II?

CONTACT US

Please get in touch with us for any questions, inquiries, feedback or with any comments you might have.

LATEST ARTICLES

Every year on April 25th, DNA Day celebrates the discovery of DNA’s double helix and the advances we’ve made in understanding genetics. D...

Read more

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have diverse genetic origins, making diagnosis challenging. A new study analyzing over 1,100 pediatric patients f...

Read more

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers worldwide, with a significant number of cases presenting at an advanced ...

Read more

Carrier screening is a genetic test designed to identify whether an individual carries a gene with changes (mutations) associated with inherited diso...

Read more

Trisomy 13, also known as Patau syndrome, is a genetic condition in which cells in the body have three copies of chromosome 13 instead of two. The co...

Read more

The human brain develops through a complex series of events, with genes carefully regulating the formation of neurons and glial cells. A recent study...

Read more

Rare diseases affect between 300 and 400 million people worldwide – more than cancer and AIDS combined [1, 2], but despite this, many people face a...

Read more

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was a brilliant and meticulous research scientist whose interdisciplinary work made fundamental contributions to various area...

Read more

February, designated as Cancer Awareness Month, marks a time to reflect on the remarkable progress made in cancer research and to inspire hope for th...

Read more

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health issue as it remains a leading cause of death worldwide [1]. CVD is responsible for mor...

Read more