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Fredwall S, AlSayed M, Ben-Omran T, Boero S, Cormier-Daire V, Fauroux B, Guillén-Navarro E, Innig F, Kunkel P, Lampe C, Maghnie M, Mohnike K, Mortier G, Pejin Z, Sessa M, Sousa SB, Irving M. European Achondroplasia Forum Practical Considerations for Following Adults with Achondroplasia. Adv Ther 2024; 41:2545-2558. [PMID: 38748332 PMCID: PMC11213767 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-024-02880-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Achondroplasia is a lifelong condition requiring lifelong management. There is consensus that infants and children with achondroplasia should be managed by a multidisciplinary team experienced in the condition. However, many people are lost to follow-up after the transition from paediatric to adult care, and there is no standardised approach for management in adults, despite the recent availability of international consensus guidelines. To address this, the European Achondroplasia Forum has developed a patient-held checklist to support adults with achondroplasia in managing their health. The checklist highlights key symptoms of spinal stenosis and obstructive sleep apnoea, both among the most frequent and potentially severe medical complications in adults with achondroplasia. The checklist acts as a framework to support individuals and their primary care provider in completing a routine review. General advice on issues such as blood pressure, pain, hearing, weight, adaptive aids, and psychosocial aspects are also included. The checklist provides key symptoms to be aware of, in addition to action points so that people can approach their primary care provider and be directed to the appropriate specialist, if needed. Additionally, the European Achondroplasia Forum offers some ideas on implementing the checklist during the transition from paediatric to adult care, thus ensuring the existing multidisciplinary team model in place during childhood can support in engaging individuals and empowering them to take responsibility for their own care as they move into adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svein Fredwall
- Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital, TRS National Resource Centre for Rare Disorders, Nesodden, Norway.
| | - Moeenaldeen AlSayed
- Department of Medical Genomics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, 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 and Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Brigitte Fauroux
- Necker University Hospital and Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Encarna Guillén-Navarro
- Medical Genetics Division and Pediatrics Department, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- CIBERER-ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Philip Kunkel
- University Medical Centre Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christian Lampe
- Clinic of Child and Youth Medicine, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Paediatric Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Klaus Mohnike
- Children's Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Geert Mortier
- Centre for Human Genetics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Marco Sessa
- Italian Association on Achondroplasia, Milan, Italy
| | - Sérgio B Sousa
- Medical Genetics Department, Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra, Hospital Pediátrico de Coimbra, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- University Clinic of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- ERN-BOND, Bologna, Italy
| | - Melita Irving
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Savarirayan R, Hoover-Fong J, Yap P, Fredwall SO. New treatments for children with achondroplasia. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2024; 8:301-310. [PMID: 38485412 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00310-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism in humans, caused by a common pathogenic variant in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, FGFR3, which impairs the process of endochondral ossification of the growing skeleton. In this Review, we outline the clinical and genetic hallmarks of achondroplasia and related FGFR3 conditions, the natural history and impact of achondroplasia over a patient's lifespan, and diagnosis and management options. We then focus on the new and emerging drug therapies that target the underlying pathogenesis of this condition. These new options are changing the natural growth patterns of achondroplasia, with the prospect of better long-term health outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Savarirayan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | | | - Patrick Yap
- Genetic Health Services New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
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Stender M, Pimenta JM, Cheung M, Irving M, Mukherjee S. Comprehensive literature review on the prevalence of comorbid conditions in patients with achondroplasia. Bone 2022; 162:116472. [PMID: 35728791 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2022.116472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Achondroplasia (ACH) is a rare, genetic condition and is the most common skeletal dysplasia resulting in disproportionate short stature and numerous multi-systemic comorbidities. As we enter an era of new treatment options which may impact comorbidities, it is important to understand the background rates of these events to aid evaluation of potential treatment effects. Thus, the aim of this literature review was to provide a comprehensive quantification of prevalence estimates of comorbidities in achondroplasia by age for use as a compiled reference to assist in quantifying the risk/benefit of new treatment options and informing timely management of ACH. METHODS PubMed and Embase databases were searched, complemented by manual bibliography searching, for peer-reviewed articles published between 1975 and 2021, guided by PRISMA principles. Number of patients and the prevalence of specific comorbidities by age were extracted. We calculated exact 95 %-confidence limits for the proportion of affected patients (prevalence) and data were presented visually using forest plots. An a priori decision was made not to utilise meta-analytic techniques to pool estimates as we intended to understand the variability in comorbidities by displaying each estimate separately. RESULTS The literature search identified 206 articles of which 73 were eligible for inclusion. The majority of studies (n = 34) had been conducted in the USA or in Europe (n = 20). Study designs were mostly retrospective chart reviews (n = 33) or small cohort studies (n = 19). The availability of literature on particular conditions varied but trended towards a focus on assessment and prevention of severe conditions, such as respiratory conditions in children (21 studies), neurological manifestations (16 studies) and upper spine compression (15 studies). There was substantial heterogeneity in study design, type of clinical setting, populations and use of definitions in reporting comorbidities which need to be considered when interpreting study results. Despite the variability of the studies, comorbidity patterns by age were recognizable. In infants, a high prevalence (>20 %) was found for kyphosis, a range of neurological manifestations and sleep apnea. There was also an excess mortality in infancy (4-7.8/100 person-years). Conditions identified in infancy continued to prevail in childhood. Genu varum was highly prevalent from the age children started to walk (9-75 %). Other conditions started to emerge in children; those with a high prevalence (>20 %) were hearing loss and pain. In adolescence, neurological manifestations in the arm, neck or leg were reported (~15 %), consistent with symptomatic spinal stenosis or spinal compression. Fewer studies were available in older populations, especially in adults; however limited data suggest that pain and cardiovascular conditions, particularly excess weight and obesity, became more prevalent into adulthood. Mortality rates increased again in older age-groups. CONCLUSION This review provides a reference base of current knowledge of the type and frequency of comorbidities in ACH. This not only allows future contextualisation of new treatment options but supports clinical decision-making on the timely medical management and intervention of ACH. This review also reflects the current medical priorities in the management of ACH, indicating a focus on pediatric care and the complex needs of individuals with ACH involving many different disciplines. Further studies into the natural history of this rare disease using more consistent definitions of comorbidities, especially into adulthood, are needed to elucidate the multi-systemic nature of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Moira Cheung
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Melita Irving
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Fredwall S, Allum Y, AlSayed M, Alves I, Ben-Omran T, Boero S, Cormier-Daire V, Guillen-Navarro E, Irving M, Lampe C, Maghnie M, Mohnike K, Mortier G, Sousa SB, Wright M. Optimising care and follow-up of adults with achondroplasia. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:318. [PMID: 35987833 PMCID: PMC9392284 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02479-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that can cause complications across the lifespan. While complications in childhood are well documented, the natural history of achondroplasia in adults has, until recently, been relatively lacking, and little is known about the care they receive or how they access it. The European Achondroplasia Forum undertook two exploratory surveys, one for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and one for patient advocacy group (PAG) representatives, to gain an understanding of current practices of the transition process of individuals with achondroplasia from paediatric to adult services and how adults perceive their care.
Results
Most HCP respondents followed up more children than adults, and 8/15 responded that individuals did not transition to an adult multidisciplinary team (MDT) after paediatric care. Of 10 PAG respondents, none considered the experience of transition to adult services as good or very good and 50% considered it to be poor or very poor. A total of 64% (7/11) described the coordination of transition to adult services as “Not satisfactory” or “Poor”. HCPs and PAG representatives largely agreed on the core specialists involved in adult care (orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, rheumatologists, clinical geneticists). However, there was a discrepancy in the understanding of healthcare needs outside of this, with PAG representatives selecting neurosurgeons and genetic counsellors, while HCPs selected pulmonologists and obstetricians/gynaecologists. There was agreement between HCP and PAG respondents on the key barriers to effective care of adults with achondroplasia, with lack of an adult MDT, lack of interest from individuals in accessing care, and less experience in adult than paediatric MDTs ranking highly.
Conclusions
This study indicates that the care and follow up of adults with achondroplasia is challenging. Individuals are often lost to, or decline, follow up as they leave paediatric care, and it is largely unknown how, where, and why adults with achondroplasia access care later in life. Lifelong, multidisciplinary specialist care led by an identified physician should be accessible to all individuals with achondroplasia. It is important to ensure barriers to optimal care are addressed to enable access to appropriate care for all individuals with achondroplasia.
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