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Cormier-Daire V, AlSayed M, Alves I, Bengoa J, Ben-Omran T, Boero S, Fredwall S, Garel C, Guillen-Navarro E, Irving M, Lampe C, Maghnie M, Mortier G, Sousa SB, Mohnike K. Optimising the diagnosis and referral of achondroplasia in Europe: European Achondroplasia Forum best practice recommendations. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:293. [PMID: 35897040 PMCID: PMC9327303 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02442-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Achondroplasia is the most common form of skeletal dysplasia, with serious comorbidities and complications that may occur from early infancy to adulthood, requiring lifelong management from a multidisciplinary team expert in the condition The European Achondroplasia Forum guiding principles of management highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely referral to a centre specialised in the management of achondroplasia to fully support individuals with achondroplasia and their families, and to appropriately plan management. The European Achondroplasia Forum undertook an exploratory audit of its Steering Committee to ascertain the current situation in Europe and to understand the potential barriers to timely diagnosis and referral. RESULTS Diagnosis of achondroplasia was primarily confirmed prenatally (66.6%), at Day 0 (12.8%) or within one month after birth (12.8%). For suspected and confirmed cases of achondroplasia, a greater proportion were identified earlier in the prenatal period (87.1%) with fewer diagnoses at Day 0 (5.1%) or within the first month of life (2.6%). Referral to a specialist centre took place after birth (86.6%), predominantly within the first month, although there was a wide variety in the timepoint of referral between countries and in the time lapsed between suspicion or confirmed diagnosis of achondroplasia and referral to a specialist centre. CONCLUSIONS The European Achondroplasia Forum guiding principles of management recommend diagnosis of achondroplasia as early as possible. If concerns are raised at routine ultrasound, second line investigation should be implemented so that the diagnosis can be reached as soon as possible for ongoing management. Clinical and radiological examination supported by molecular testing is the most effective way to confirm diagnosis of achondroplasia after birth. Referral to a centre specialised in achondroplasia care should be made as soon as possible on suspicion or confirmation of diagnosis. In countries or regions where there are no official skeletal dysplasia reference or specialist centres, priority should be given to their creation or recognition, together with incentives to improve the structure of the existing multidisciplinary team managing achondroplasia. The length of delay between diagnosis of achondroplasia and referral to a specialist centre warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Cormier-Daire
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Centre of Reference for Constitutional Bone Diseases (MOC), INSERM UMR 1163, Imagine Institute, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris Centre University, Paris, France.
| | - Moeenaldeen AlSayed
- Department of Medical Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Faculty of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tawfeg Ben-Omran
- Division of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Sidra Medicine & Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Silvio Boero
- Pediatric Orthopaedic and Traumatology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Svein Fredwall
- TRS National Resource Centre for Rare Disorders, Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, Nesodden, Norway
| | - Catherine Garel
- Department of Radiology, Armand-Trousseau Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Encarna Guillen-Navarro
- Medical Genetics Section, Department of Pediatrics, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, IMIB-Arrixaca, University of Murcia-UMU, Murcia, Spain.,CIBERER-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Melita Irving
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Christian Lampe
- Clinic of Neuropediatrics, Epileptology and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Geert Mortier
- Department of Medical Genetics, and Centre for Rare Diseases, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sérgio B Sousa
- Medical Genetics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Portugal AND University Clinic of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Klaus Mohnike
- Central German Competence Network for Rare Diseases (ZSE), Universitätskinderklinik, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany
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Abstract
Achondroplasia is the most common of the skeletal dysplasias that result in marked short stature (dwarfism). Although its clinical and radiologic phenotype has been described for more than 50 years, there is still a great deal to be learned about the medical issues that arise secondary to this diagnosis, the manner in which these are best diagnosed and addressed, and whether preventive strategies can ameliorate the problems that can compromise the health and well being of affected individuals. This review provides both an updated discussion of the care needs of those with achondroplasia and an exploration of the limits of evidence that is available regarding care recommendations, controversies that are currently present, and the many areas of ignorance that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Pauli
- Midwest Regional Bone Dysplasia Clinic, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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