Osteopetrosis Overview

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Additional_Bone_Topics/osteopetrosis.asp

December 2012
What Is Osteopetrosis?

Osteopetrosis is a disorder in which an imbalance in the formation and breakdown of bone causes bones to be overly dense, yet weak and prone to break easily. It is a congenital condition, which means people are born with it.

Excessive bone density can interfere with vital tissues and structures, causing serious problems throughout the body. Compression of nerves in the skull, for example, can lead to problems such as vision loss, hearing loss, or paralysis of facial muscles. It can also cause crowding of the bone marrow, which is the tissue inside the bones that produces blood cells and platelets. This can lead to low levels of cells needed to fight infection, carry oxygen to the body’s cells, or control bleeding. In the most severe cases, these problems can be life-threatening. The specific complications and their severity depend largely on the type of osteopetrosis.