Progressive Pseudorheumatoid Dysplasia
Progressive pseudorheumatoid disyplasia (PPD) is a disorder of bone and cartilage that affects many joints. It manifests between the age of 3 and 6 years with joint pain and progressive joint stiffness. Major signs and symptoms include stiff joints (contractures), short stature, and widening of the ends of the finger and toe bones as well as other tubular bones. Bony widening at the fingers' joints progresses leading to permanent bending of the fingers (camptodactyly). Spine involvement results in short trunk and hunching of the back (kyphosis). It may initially be mistaken for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, however people with this condition do not have the laboratory test results of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. PPD is caused by a mutation in the WISP3 gene and is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. There is still no cure. Treatment may include pain medication and hip and knee joint replacement surgery at an early age.