Hereditary human diseases with skeletal pathology – molecular pathogenesis and clinical characteristics

Differential diagnosis of hereditary diseases is challenging due to similar clinical manifestations, diversity of nosologies, wide clinical variability and genetic heterogeneity, severity, rare frequency and complex molecular etiology. In some of them, connective tissue as a whole is involved in the pathological process, affecting almost all organs and systems of the human body, and in particular bone tissue, disrupting its remodeling and microarchitecture. The defect can occur at any of the stages of remodeling: during the initiation process, during bone resorption, osteoblast differentiation, osteoid mineralization, etc. Violation of the microarchitecture of bone tissue is accompanied by the development of low-traumatic fractures and deformities, early osteoarthritis, the formation of contractures and chronic pain syndrome. Genetic studies of patients have expanded knowledge about  the molecular signaling pathways that coordinate bone development and metabolism, the nature of disease inheritance, clinical features, and specific bone biomarkers. This article provides an overview of key cellular mechanisms, features of diagnosis and treatment of hereditary human diseases that affect the condition of bone tissue and skeleton: osteogenesis imperfecta, EhlersDanlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, juvenile osteoporosis, hypophosphatasia, osteopetrosis, progressive diaphyseal dysplasia, mucopolysaccharidoses, achondroplasia, multiple hereditary exostoses. Doctors of different specialties can encounter these diseases, and making a correct diagnosis will make it possible to determine the correct algorithm for patient management and begin timely treatment, the ability to prevent the development of severe complications, improve the quality of life of patients, restore maximum working capacity and reduce the percentage of disability.