Skeletal Disease
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
How is happens
- Muscle and connective tissue (tendons and ligaments) are replaced by bone
- It forms bone outside of the skeleton which effects movement in every part of the body
- Usually starts in the scapula area or around the neck and noticeable around early childhood
- Effects 1 in every 2 million people
- 800 cases world wide; 285 United States
- $1.5 million/year on research
FOP Facts & Insights: What is FOP?
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
- only labatory dedicated to FOP research
- Discovered the FOP Gene in April 2006
- Usually misdiagnosed as cancer
Symptoms can include:
- Short big toe
- Restraint in shoulders, neck, or other large muscle areas
- Bone fusion in toes
- Scoliosis
- Swelling, pain and/or fever
Treatment options:
- Little to no treatment options
- There are more discoveries in medicine being made for possible treatments
- Money for research is very low so this creates a struggle for a treatment