A skeletal dysplasia is diagnosed in 1 of 5,000 births each year (Orioli et al., 1986). Severity is highly variable and can range from mild short stature to perinatal lethality. Among patients with less severe forms that allow survival are many who will require significant care for the duration of their lives. Despite research in the area of skeletal dysplasias that has elucidated a great deal about the genetic pathophysiology of these conditions, there remain limited therapeutic options.

The ability to accurately diagnose a skeletal dysplasia in utero has improved in recent years due to advances in prenatal ultrasound and molecular diagnosis. There are, however, limitations to ultrasound; certain skeletal dysplasias may not be seen until the third trimester (e.g., some forms of osteogenesis imperfecta), while others may manifest as late as infancy or early childhood (e.g., pseudoachondroplasia). In general, the earlier the dysplasia manifests, the more significant are its effects in terms of prenatal and postnatal morbidity and mortality. When sonographic findings are present, parents benefit from prenatal counseling and anticipatory guidance. Understanding the inheritance pattern is also important to direct recurrence risk estimates for future pregnancies, particularly when both parents are affected with a skeletal dysplasia. Inheritance depends on the specific dysplasia and may include autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked inheritance, or a combination of these when both parents are affected.

Medical management of patients with skeletal dysplasias is dictated by the underlying pathogenesis along with the type and severity of physical manifestations in the realm of orthopedics, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and pulmonary services. Pharmacologic treatment for these conditions is disease-specific (Table 1), and 4 conditions/groups will be discussed.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as “brittle bone disease,” is characterized by short stature, bone deformation, bone fragility, and osteoporosis (Forlino et al., 2011). There are over a dozen types of OI with a prevalence of 1–2 per 20,000 children (Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). Pathogenic mutations in OI have been uncovered in the following genes: COL1A1, COL1A2, SERPINF1, CRTAP, LEPRE1, PPIB, SERPINHI, or FKBP10. The majority of cases are due to an autosomal dominant mutation in COL1A1 and COL1A2 resulting in types I–IV, classified based on severity (Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). These mutations affect formation of type I collagen, which is the most prominent connective tissue in bone and skin.

Type I patients have a quantitative deficiency of collagen and often have blue sclerae and fractures without deformity. Patients with Types II–IV have defective forms of collagen caused by improper formation of the triple helix resulting in continual remodeling with a dominant negative effect. Type II OI is perinatally lethal, due to severe intrauterine fractures and bone deformities (Harrington et al., 2014). Type III is the most severe nonlethal type of OI, presenting with normal mental capacity (Krakow, 2015) and progressive deformities resulting in loss of ambulatory abilities (Krakow, 2015). Type IV OI is milder than type III, but still severe, commonly characterized by vertebral fractures and short stature (Krakow, 2015). Types II and III are generally detectable in utero (Krakow et al., 2008; Krakow, 2015), whereas the milder types of OI, types I, IV, and V, are usually diagnosed after birth (Harrington et al., 2014). Patients with type II and type III OI likely have a small chest cavity, and may require mechanical ventilation if demise is not inevitable secondary to severe fractures (Harrington et al., 2014).

In addition to the autosomal dominant mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2, 5–10% of cases are due to a mutation in another gene. Type V OI, due to an autosomal dominant mutation in IFTITM5, is recognized by hypercallus formation and calcification of the intraosseous membrane (Liu et al., 2016). An autosomal recessive mutation in SERPINF1 is responsible for type VI (Harrington et al., 2014). Additional types of OI are autosomal recessive and are not well-recognized because they are very rare. Examples include the following types and (genes): type VII (CRTAP), type VIII (LEPRE1), type IX (PPIB), type X (SERPINH1), and Type XI (FKBP10; Harrington et al., 2014; Krakow, 2015).

Of the skeletal dysplasias, osteogenesis Imperfecta currently has the most pharmacologic treatment options. Overall the goal is to improve bone density and decrease fractures, and there are several drug families currently employed to do this (Lee et al., 2016). Medications include bisphosphonates, growth hormones, denosumab, and teriparatide. Additional therapies are under investigation; Raloxifine improves outcomes in murine models, and mesenchymal bone marrow transplant has promise when initiated in utero.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare metabolic disorder resulting from a loss-of-function mutation in the ALPL gene with corresponding deficiency of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) (Millán and Plotkin, 2012; Whyte et al., 2015; Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). There are 6 recognized clinical forms of HPP with varied severity, all correlated to insufficient mineralization of bone and teeth as well as osteomalacia in adults (Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). Although, mild forms of HPP are found in adolescents and adults, HPP that manifests in the fetus is almost always associated with infantile and perinatal lethality (Millán and Plotkin, 2012; Yap and Savarirayan, 2016) due to abnormal skeletal development and respiratory complications resulting from a small chest with pulmonary hypoplasia (Nishioka et al., 2006).

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a type of lysosomal storage disease, a rare group of disorders that results in symptoms secondary to a defect in lysosomal function leading to abnormal storage of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the bones, heart, brain, liver, or spleen (Muenzer, 2014; Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). The enzyme deficiency is specific to the type of MPS. MPSs are progressive, so most cases become lethal as the patient ages (Walkley, 2009) as GAG builds up and causes multiple organ failures (Muenzer, 2011). GAGs are also involved in complex secondary signaling pathways which can create permanent cellular damage (Muenzer, 2014), so early diagnosis and treatment are essential to patient longevity (Clarke, 2011). Early diagnosis, however, is often difficult in patients with normal cognitive abilities (Muenzer, 2011; Lachman et al., 2014; Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). There are seven types of MPS, each of which is caused by an autosomal recessive disorder, except for MPS II, which is X-linked recessive and generally occurs only in males (Valayannopoulos and Wijbug, 2011; Muenzer, 2014). Current treatments for the mucopolysaccharidoses are focused mostly on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; Clarke, 2011).

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) involves intravenous administration of the deficient enzyme specific to each type of MPS (Valayannopoulos and Wijbug, 2011; Haneef and Doss, 2016). ERT is currently used to treat MPS I, MPS II, and MPS VI (Muenzer, 2014; Haneef and Doss, 2016). Its use in the treatment of MPS IV type A (Morquio) is under observational study now that it has been FDA approved (Haneef and Doss, 2016; Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). Although, repeated administration ERT may improve some of the symptoms of MPS including respiratory function and mobility, it cannot reverse existing skeletal disease (Muenzer, 2014).

MPS I is caused by deficiency of α-L-iduronidase (IDUA; Wang et al., 2009; Valayannopoulos and Wijbug, 2011; Ou et al., 2016), a critical enzyme in the GAG degradation pathway of heparin sulfate and dermatan sulfate (Kakkis et al., 2001; Muenzer, 2011; Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). MPS I is categorized into 3 groups based on its presentation and severity: Hurler's syndrome (severe; lethal by age 10); Hurler-Scheie syndrome (moderate; lethality by age 20); and Scheie's syndrome (mild; possible normal life span; Kakkis et al., 2001). Larodinase is used in ERT for MPS I, and has been shown to safely reverse some MPS symptoms, not including those relating to skeletal disease (Wraith et al., 2004; Muenzer, 2014).

MPS II is the only form of MPS that is inherited as an X-linked recessive disorder. It results from a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulphatase (Muenzer, 2011) which, similar to MPS I, leads to insufficient degradation of dermatin sulfate and heparin sulfate (Muenzer, 2011; Haneef and Doss, 2016; Motas et al., 2016). Idursulfase administration has resulted in reduced non-central nervous system symptoms of MPS II (Haneef and Doss, 2016).

MPS IVA and VI are difficult to distinguish because of their varied presentation (Lachman et al., 2014), however treatment is dependent on the diagnosis. MPS IVA results from deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) corresponding to the buildup of keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin-6-sulfate (C6S) (Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). Clinical treatment for MPS IVA with elsosulfase alfa is underway (Regier and Tanpaiboon, 2016). Galsulfase is currently the only treatment for MPS VI and has been successful in improving pulmonary function and mobility (Motas et al., 2016).

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and bone marrow transplantation are used to introduce unaffected donor cells into the body and correct the lysosomal disorder by the accompanied addition of the enzyme that was previously lacking (Haneef and Doss, 2016). HCST is recommended in treating Hurler syndrome (MPS I) with ERT pre-treatment for the best results (Clarke, 2011; Muenzer, 2014). HSCT has been less successful in patients with MPS II or severe forms of MPS III (Muenzer, 2014; Motas et al., 2016). Bone marrow transplant was effective in reversing CNS symptoms (Walkley et al., 1994) in MPS I, MPS II, MPS VI, and MPS VII but is associated with a high complication rate (Haneef and Doss, 2016).

Achondroplasia (ACH) is an autosomal dominant disorder generally resulting from a specific gain-of-function mutation (G380R) in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) (Wang et al., 2013; Krakow, 2015; Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). As the most common type of nonlethal skeletal dysplasia, occurring in 1–2 of every 20,000 live births (Savarirayan and Rimoin, 2002; Yasoda et al., 2009; Klag and Horton, 2016), ACH is the cause for most cases of dwarfism (Klag and Horton, 2016; Yap and Savarirayan, 2016). The common clinical presentation of ACH includes short stature, relative macrocephaly with frontal bossing (Matsushita et al., 2014), and rhizomelic limb shortening (Faruqi et al., 2014; Krakow, 2015). There are usually no cognitive impairments associated with ACH unless symptoms result due to a complication of another manifestation (Gordon, 2000). Severe symptoms may result due to spinal stenosis at the foramen magnum.

Abnormal long-bone development typically is not obvious until after the first half of the second trimester thus, early prenatal diagnosis of ACH by ultrasound is not common (Krakow et al., 2008; Krakow, 2015). When achondroplasia is suspected, prenatal molecular diagnosis can be employed to evaluate for the specific G380R mutation, however sequencing of FGFR3 may be preferred if hypochodroplasia is on the list of differential diagnoses. Affected parents may also desire prenatal molecular diagnosis or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to evaluate for a known maternal or paternal mutation (Wang et al., 2013).

Pharmacologic treatments for ACH are currently in stage 2 clinical trials (Wendt et al., 2015; Klag and Horton, 2016). Treatments are aimed at regulating the function of FGFR3 in growth plate formation (Matsushita et al., 2014). FGFR3 negatively regulates bone growth (Faruqi et al., 2014). Its elevated function leads to irregular endochondral ossification (Wendt et al., 2015; Yap and Savarirayan, 2016) and underdeveloped linear bone growth (Liu et al., 2016) resulting from interrupted differentiation of chondrocytes (Yasoda et al., 2009; Wendt et al., 2015; Klag and Horton, 2016).

C-type natriuretic peptides (CNP) increased linear bone growth in murine models with ACH by antagonizing FGFR3 signals (Wang et al., 2013; Faruqi et al., 2014; Klag and Horton, 2016). Most CNPs are active in the body for less than 3 min (Klag and Horton, 2016) before they are removed by the natriuretic clearance receptor (NPR C) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) (Wendt et al., 2015). Constant intravenous infusions of these short-lived CNPs would be required to observe any improvement of endochondral ossification in patients (Yasoda et al., 2009; Wendt et al., 2015). BMN 111 (vosoritide) is a type of CNP that is resistant to digestion by NEP, and therefore has a longer circulation period in the body (Klag and Horton, 2016). Recent studies have shown an increased annual linear bone growth in cynomolgus monkeys (Wendt et al., 2015) and in children with ACH after daily subcutaneous administration of BMN 111 (Klag and Horton, 2016). BMN 111 is the most promising of CNP treatments and the only treatment for ACH that has made it to clinical trials (Klag and Horton, 2016).

The currently available clinical therapies for patients with skeletal dysplasia are predominantly palliative in nature, however enzyme replacement therapy is now available for certain skeletal conditions. The ability to perform enzyme replacement therapy requires knowledge of the underlying molecular diagnosis as well as the pathogenic pathway by which the mutation affects bone growth and/or development. In addition to enzyme replacement therapy, bone marrow transplant is a less specific form of therapy that is clinically beneficial for several skeletal dysplasias. It is also being trialed in utero for osteogenesis imperfecta. A lack of suitable biomarkers accounts for the deficiency of therapeutic treatments (Briggs et al., 2015). Identifying these biomarkers will enable more useful treatment methods, but there is also associated difficulty with targeting the specific mutations, even when their identity is known (Tomatsu et al., 2013). Advances in molecular technology enable a more rapidly confirmed diagnosis as well as an earlier diagnosis in childhood and even in utero. This is key to allow for useful therapies specific to the underlying diagnosis. Our diagnostic capabilities will allow for a more personalized approach to treatment and targeted gene therapy as a foreseeable approach in the future.

All authors contributed to the concept and design of this project. All authors have reviewed and edited the final manuscript.

AJ is funded by the Johns Hopkins Women's Health Scholar Program.