What is Achondroplasia?

Achondroplasia is the most common cause of short stature, or dwarfism. One of the most important things to know is this: It’s about more than just height.

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ACHONDROPLASIA IS

a type of skeletal dysplasia (a condition that affects the bones and cartilage). While the most visible effects are in the arms, legs, and face, nearly all of the bones in the body are affected. The widespread impact of this condition can cause serious, progressive, and lifelong complications.1-3 Despite these complications, achondroplasia does not have to hold people back from living happy and fulfilling lives.

The more you know, the more prepared you can be for the future.

image showing 1 in 25,000 on a spinning globe

RARE

1 in 25,000 children are born with achondroplasia, and there are about 250,000 people in the world with this condition.1,2

GENETIC

Most children with achondroplasia (80%) are born to parents of average stature as the result of a change in the gene (a mutation) that causes it to not function properly.3

Image showing a DNA and a Baby
Image showing a magnifier

DIAGNOSED IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Sometimes achondroplasia is diagnosed before birth based on physical features during a prenatal ultrasound. Radiology (medical imaging) may be used to confirm the diagnosis. In other cases, it isn’t diagnosed until after birth.3,4

Achondroplasia Begins With the Bones

Bones begin growing before birth (in utero) and keep growing until adulthood. The process happens in the bones’ growth plates, where the body makes cartilage that is then replaced by bone.

Chondrocytes (cells in the cartilage) line up to form new bone. This process is called endochondral ossification and happens in almost all the bones of the body. Receptors in chondrocytes control the process by sending out and receiving signals.

Image showing acho bone

Some signals, like the signals from FGFR3 receptors (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3), tell the bones to slow down growth. Others, like the signals from NPRB receptors (natriuretic peptide receptor B), block those signals and allow bones to grow.

FGFR3 receptors are usually only “turned on” when the body needs to stop changing cartilage into bone.

Image showing FGFR3-receptor
Image showing a typical chondrocyte
Image showing achondroplasia chondrocyte

In achondroplasia, a change in the structure of the FGFR3 gene causes the body to continuously send out signals to slow bone growth. Because FGFR3 receptors are always “turned on,” the signals to slow bone growth are stronger than the signals that tell bones to grow (which come from the NPRB receptors).4

As a result, the chondrocytes have trouble lining up to form new bone, impairing bone growth.

References:

  1. Ireland PJ et al. Appl Clin Genet 2014;7:117-125.
  2. Wynn J et al. Am J Med Genet A 2007;143A(21):2502-11.
  3. Hecht JT, Bodensteiner JB, Butler IJ. Handb Clin Neurol 2014;119:551-63.
  4. Horton WA et al. Achondroplasia. Lancet 2007;370:162-72.

Learn about the lifelong impact of achondroplasia.