Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Symptoms may include a shortage of red blood cells (anemia), physical abnormalities such as small head size (microcephaly) characteristic facial features, cleft palate, cleft lip, short and webbed neck, small shoulder blades, and defects of the hands (mostly of the thumbs), as well as defects of the genitalia, urinary tract, eyes and heart. In some cases there is also short stature.
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is caused by mutations in several genes, some of which have been identified and some of which have not. Identified genes include but are not limited to: RPS19, RPL5, RPS10, RPL11, RPL35A, RPS7, RPS17, RPS24, RPS26 and GATA1 genes. Different subtypes exist and are divided based on the specific gene mutated; however, they have similar features. Patients with mutations in the RPL5 gene have more serious symptoms and about 45% have cleft palate and are smaller than average size. Patients with mutations in the RPL11 gene have thumb anomalies more frequently than people with the other types. Mutations in the GATA1 gene are associated with severe anemia. Most cases are isolated, but about 45% of people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia inherit this condition from a parent. Inheritance is typically autosomal dominant , but can rarely be X-linked.
Treatment may involve corticosteroids, blood transfusions, a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplantation. The severity of the disease is very varied. People with Diamond-Blackfan anemia may have an increased risk of having diseases related to a bone marrow defect, such as myelodysplastic syndrome, and certain cancers. Adults with the disease may have hormonal problems in later life, specially adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism and hypothyroidism.
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is caused by mutations in several genes, some of which have been identified and some of which have not. Identified genes include but are not limited to: RPS19, RPL5, RPS10, RPL11, RPL35A, RPS7, RPS17, RPS24, RPS26 and GATA1 genes. Different subtypes exist and are divided based on the specific gene mutated; however, they have similar features. Patients with mutations in the RPL5 gene have more serious symptoms and about 45% have cleft palate and are smaller than average size. Patients with mutations in the RPL11 gene have thumb anomalies more frequently than people with the other types. Mutations in the GATA1 gene are associated with severe anemia. Most cases are isolated, but about 45% of people with Diamond-Blackfan anemia inherit this condition from a parent. Inheritance is typically autosomal dominant , but can rarely be X-linked.
Treatment may involve corticosteroids, blood transfusions, a bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplantation. The severity of the disease is very varied. People with Diamond-Blackfan anemia may have an increased risk of having diseases related to a bone marrow defect, such as myelodysplastic syndrome, and certain cancers. Adults with the disease may have hormonal problems in later life, specially adrenal insufficiency, hypogonadism and hypothyroidism.