Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia 

  • Author: Alan P Knutsen, MD; Chief Editor: Harumi Jyonouchi, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 15, 2012
 

Background

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH), which is Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) disease number 250250, is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder that results in short-limb dwarfism associated with T-cell and B-cell immunodeficiency.[1] Cartilage-hair hypoplasia and other short-limb dwarfism phenotypes are associated with metaphyseal or spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is a variant of short-limb dwarfism in which fine sparse hair is also present.

The immunodeficiency in cartilage-hair hypoplasia may be an isolated T-cell immunodeficiency, isolated B-cell immunodeficiency, or combined T-cell and B-cell immunodeficiency.

Although originally described by McKusik et al in 1964 in Amish children and known as metaphyseal chondrodysplasia McKusick type, cartilage-hair hypoplasia has been described in non-Amish persons throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico.[2] The genetic defect in cartilage-hair hypoplasia has been confirmed to be mutations in the RMRP gene.

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Pathophysiology

The genetic defect in cartilage-hair hypoplasia has been identified as a mutation in the gene for RNAase RMRP, mapped to 9p12.[3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] RMRP is a ribonucleoprotein present in the nucleus and mitochondria. RNase RMRP has 2 functions: cleavage of RNA in mitochondrial DNA synthesis and nucleolar cleaving of preribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA). RMRP also plays a role in ribosomal RNA production and may have a role in nuclear DNA replication. RMRP is required for cell growth, consistent with observations that a generalized defect in cell growth is observed in T cells, B cells, and fibroblasts. In 2005, a study reported that different RMRP gene mutations led to decreased cell growth by impairing ribosomal assembly and by altering cyclin-dependent cell-cycle regulation.[4]

RMRP has 2 types of mutations. The first are insertions or duplications of 6-30 nucleotides that reside in the region between the TATA box and the transcription initiation site. These mutations interfere with the transcription of the RMRP gene. The second consists of single nucleotide substitutions and other changes that involve at most 2 nucleotides in highly conserved regions of the gene. The latter mutations result in variable expression of the gene, which may explain the variable phenotype seen in cartilage-hair hypoplasia. The most commonly found mutation in patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia is 70A>G, which occurs in 30-50% of patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia and causes an alteration in ribosomal processing.[9] RMRP mutations that reduce ribosomal RNA cleavage are associated with bone dysplasia; whereas, mutations that affect mRNA cleavage are associated with hair hypoplasia, immunodeficiency, and dermatologic abnormalities.[7]

Although the immune defect primarily affects the T-cell system, mutations of RMRP result in more generalized hematopoietic impairments.[10] In studies from Makitie et al, defective in vitro colony formation in all myeloid lineages was present, including erythroid, granulocyte-macrophage, and megakaryocyte colony formation. This suggests a common cell proliferation defect in cartilage-hair hypoplasia. How the recently identified genetic defects correlate with immunologic defects remains to be determined.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is a rare defect. It has been described in both Amish and non-Amish populations. In the Amish, the gene frequency was reported to be 1 per 1340 population with a carrier rate of 1 per 19 population.[5] A recent study examined the temporal trends of primary immunodeficiency diseases.[11]

International

In Finland, the frequency of cartilage-hair hypoplasia was reported to be 1 case per 23,000 live births, with a carrier rate of 1 case per 76 live births.[12]

Mortality/Morbidity

Persons with cartilage-hair hypoplasia may be subject to infections with opportunistic microorganisms, principally life-threatening varicella infections. In one report, approximately 88% of 108 Finnish patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia had defective cellular immunity and 56% had increased susceptibility to infections.[13] Individuals with more severe impaired cellular immunity are more susceptible to malignancies, especially leukemia and lymphoma. In their series, the incidence rate of malignancies was 6%. The risk of infections and malignancies correlates with the severity of impaired T-cell immunity.

However, cartilage hair-hypoplasia is a rare cause of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In a large series of 108 patients with SCID, only one patient with cartilage hair-hypoplasia was identified.[14] Individuals with cartilage hair-hypoplasia and SCID have a greater susceptibility to opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and graft versus host disease, and may succumb to overwhelming infections in infancy.

Race

First reported among Amish children, the disorder has also been reported in other groups throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Mexico.

Sex

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder with equal male-to-female frequency.

Age

The predominant clinical feature of cartilage-hair hypoplasia is short-limb dwarfism evident at birth. The onset of dwarfism may be detected in utero, manifesting as shortening and bowing of the femur.

The onset of increased susceptibility to recurrent infections and severity of infections is somewhat more variable in cartilage-hair hypoplasia.

In two studies, increased susceptibility to infections was reported in only 31-56% of individuals with cartilage-hair hypoplasia.[13, 12] In addition, infections may be limited to varicella and may occur in early childhood. Thus, immunodeficiency in individuals with cartilage-hair hypoplasia varies, often with limited susceptibility to infections, and many children with cartilage-hair hypoplasia may live healthy lives.

Children with cartilage-hair hypoplasia that causes SCID present in early infancy with susceptibility to overwhelming and opportunistic infections.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Alan P Knutsen, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Director Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic & Research Center for Primary Immuodeficiences (CGCMC), Director of Pediatric Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, St Louis University Health Sciences Center

Alan P Knutsen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and Clinical Immunology Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

James M Oleske  MD, MPH, François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Division of Pulmonary Allergy Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School; Professor, Department of Quantitative Methods, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

James M Oleske is a member of the following medical societies: Academy of Medicine of New Jersey, American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of HIV Medicine, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Pain Management, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Pediatrics, American Association of Public Health Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Pain Society, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Thoracic Society, Arab Board of Family Medicine, Association of Clinical Researchers and Educators (ACRE), Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infectious Diseases Society of New Jersey, Medical Society of New Jersey, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John Wilson Georgitis, MD  Consulting Staff, Lafayette Allergy Services

John Wilson Georgitis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Chest Physicians, American Lung Association, American Medical Writers Association, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David Pallares, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

David Pallares, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD  Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy/Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Harumi Jyonouchi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Medical Association, Clinical Immunology Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Society for Mucosal Immunology, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Hair of a patient with cartilage-hair hypoplasia (left) compared with that of a typical individual. The hair of the patient with cartilage-hair hypoplasia has a smaller diameter because the central core is absent.
Table. Immune Globulin, Intravenous[33, 34, 35, 36]
Brand(Manufacturer)Manufacturing ProcesspHAdditives (IVIG products containing sucrose are more often associated with renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, and osmotic nephrosis, particularly with preexisting risk factors [eg, history of renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, age >65 y, dehydration, sepsis, paraproteinemia, nephrotoxic drugs]) Parenteral Form and Final ConcentrationsIgA Content (mcg/mL)
Carimune NF



(CSL Behring)



Kistler-Nitschmann fractionation; pH 4, nanofiltration6.4-6.86% solution: 10% sucrose, < 20 mg NaCl/g proteinLyophilized powder 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%Trace
Flebogamma



(Grifols USA)



Cohn-Oncley fractionation, PEG precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, pasteurization5.1-6Sucrose free, contains 5% D-sorbitolLiquid 5%< 50
Gammagard Liquid 10%



(Baxter Bioscience)



Cohn-Oncley cold ethanol fractionation, cation and anion exchange chromatography, solvent detergent treated, nanofiltration, low pH incubation 4.6-5.10.25M glycineReady-for-use liquid 10%37
Gamunex



(Talecris Biotherapeutics)



Cohn-Oncley fractionation, caprylate-chromatography purification, cloth and depth filtration, low pH incubation4-4.5Does not contain carbohydrate stabilizers (eg, sucrose, maltose), contains glycineLiquid 10%46
Gammaplex



(Bio Products)



Solvent/detergent treatment targeted to enveloped viruses; virus filtration using Pall Ultipor to remove small viruses including nonenveloped viruses; low pH incubation 4.8-5.1Contains sorbitol (40 mg/mL); do not administer if fructose intolerantReady-for-use solution 5%< 10
Iveegam EN



(Baxter Bioscience)



Cohn-Oncley fraction II/III; ultrafiltration; pasteurization6.4-7.25% solution: 5% glucose, 0.3% NaClLyophilized powder 5%< 10
Polygam S/D



Gammagard S/D



(Baxter Bioscience for the American Red Cross)



Cohn-Oncley cold ethanol fractionation, followed by ultracentrafiltration and ion exchange chromatography; solvent detergent treated 6.4-7.25% solution: 0.3% albumin, 2.25% glycine, 2% glucoseLyophilized powder 5%, 10%< 1.6 (5% solution)
Octagam



(Octapharma USA)



Cohn-Oncley fraction II/III; ultrafiltration; low pH incubation; S/D treatment pasteurization5.1-610% maltoseLiquid 5%200
Panglobulin



(Swiss Red Cross for the American Red Cross)



Kistler-Nitschmann fractionation; pH 4 incubation, trace pepsin, nanofiltration6.6Per gram of IgG: 1.67 g sucrose, < 20 mg NaClLyophilized powder 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%720
Privigen Liquid 10%



(CSL Behring)



Cold ethanol fractionation, octanoic acid fractionation, and anion exchange chromatography; pH 4 incubation and depth filtration4.6-5L-proline (~250 mmol/L) as stabilizer; trace sodium; does not contain carbohydrate stabilizers (eg, sucrose, maltose)Ready-for-use liquid 10%< 25
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