<unk>  (;<unk> , colloquially known as brittle bone disease, is a group of genetic disorders that all result in bones that break easily. The range of symptoms—on the skeleton as well as on the body's other organs—may be mild to severe. Symptoms found in various types of<unk>  include whites of the eye (sclerae) that are blue instead, short stature, loose joints, hearing loss, breathing problems and problems with the teeth (dentinogenesis imperfecta). Potentially life-threatening complications, all of which become more common in more severe<unk> , include: tearing (dissection) of the major arteries, such as the aorta; pulmonary valve insufficiency secondary to distortion of the ribcage; and basilar invagination. The underlying mechanism is usually a problem with connective tissue due to a lack of, or poorly formed, type I collagen. In more than 90% of cases,<unk>  occurs due to mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes. These mutations may be inherited from a person's parents in an autosomal dominant manner but may also occur spontaneously (de novo). There are four clinically defined types: type I, the least severe; type IV, moderately severe; type III, severe and progressively deforming; and type II, perinatally lethal. , 19 different genes are known to cause the 21 documented genetically defined types of<unk> , many of which are extremely rare and have only been documented in a few individuals. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and may be confirmed by collagen biopsy or DNA sequencing. Although there is no cure, most cases of<unk>  do not have a major effect on life expectancy, death during childhood from it is rare, and many adults with<unk>  can achieve a significant degree of autonomy despite disability. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating a balanced diet sufficient in vitamin D and calcium, and avoiding smoking can help prevent fractures. Genetic counseling may be sought by those with<unk>  to prevent their children from inheriting the disorder from them. Treatment may include acute care of broken bones, pain medication, physical therapy, mobility aids such as leg braces and wheelchairs, vitamin D supplementation, and, especially in childhood, rodding surgery. Rodding is an implantation of metal intramedullary rods along the long bones (such as the femur) in an attempt to strengthen them. Medical research also supports the use of medications of the bisphosphonate class, such as pamidronate, to increase bone density. Bisphosphonates are especially effective in children, however it is unclear if they either increase quality of life or decrease the rate of fracture incidence.<unk>  affects only about one in 15,000 to 20,000 people, making it a rare genetic disease. Outcomes depend on the genetic cause of the disorder (its type). Type I (the least severe) is the most common, with other types comprising a minority of cases. Moderate-to-severe<unk>  primarily affects mobility; if rodding surgery is performed during childhood, some of those with more severe types of<unk>  may gain the ability to walk. The condition has been described since ancient history. The Latinate term<unk>  was coined by Dutch anatomist Willem Vrolik in 1849; translated literally, it means "imperfect bone formation". __TOC__
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Lhermitte's sign
Dentinogenesis imperfecta
Cleidocranial dysostosis
Gerodermia osteodysplastica
Kyrle disease
Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata
Acrodysostosis