Clinical Description
Individuals with Camurati-Engelmann disease (CED) present with proximal muscle weakness, poor muscular development, a wide-based, waddling gait, easy fatigability, bone pain, and headaches. The average age of onset of symptoms in the 306 reported individuals is 13.4 years [Carlson et al 2010] with a range of onset from birth to age 76 years [Wallace et al 2004].
Table 2.
Camurati-Engelmann Disease: Frequency of Select Features
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Feature | % of Persons w/Feature | Comment |
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Proximal muscle weakness | 62%-67% | |
Wide-based, waddling gait | 48%-79% | |
Easy fatigability | 54% | |
Bone pain | 68%-100% | |
Hearing loss | 19%-54% | Sensorineural &/or conductive |
Headaches | 25% | |
Musculoskeletal. Decreased muscle mass and weakness are most apparent in the proximal lower limbs, resulting in difficulty when rising from a sitting position. A wide-based, waddling gait is common. Delayed onset of walking has been reported [Kim et al 2018, Mwasamwaja et al 2018]. Joint contractures occur in 43% of individuals. Marfanoid body habitus is described in some affected individuals, with reduction of muscle mass and subcutaneous tissue resulting in low body mass index in some individuals [Wallace et al 2004, Janssens et al 2006, Van Hul et al 2019]. Musculoskeletal involvement can lead to varying degrees of lumbar lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis, coxa valga, radial head dislocation, genu valgum, hallux valgus, and flat feet [Yuldashev et al 2017].
Bone pain is reported in the majority of affected individuals [Wallace et al 2004, Janssens et al 2006, Liang et al 2022]. The reported severity of bone pain ranged from mild (not requiring any treatment) to severe (requiring narcotic analgesics) [Yuldashev et al 2017]. The pain is described as constant, aching, and most intense in the lower limbs. Pain often increases with activity, stress, and cold weather. Many individuals have intermittent episodes of severe pain and incapacitation. Bone pain has resulted in limited ambulation in some individuals. The enlarged bone shafts can also be palpable and tender on examination; 52% of affected individuals report bone tenderness with palpation [Wallace et al 2004]. Intermittent limb swelling, erythema, and warmth also occur. Corticosteroid treatment has been reported to reduce pain and weakness and improve gait, exercise tolerance, and flexion contractures in several individuals [Lindstrom 1974, Baş et al 1999, Wallace et al 2004, Mwasamwaja et al 2018, Liang et al 2022]. Losartan alone or in combination with corticosteroids was reported to reduce bone pain and increase physical activity [Ayyavoo et al 2014, Simsek-Kiper et al 2014, Kim et al 2018, Abdulla 2019, Cui et al 2022]. The severity of bone pain may decrease in adulthood [Hughes et al 2019].
Although bone mineral density measured at the hip and femoral neck are increased in individuals with CED, bone strength measured by bone impact microindentation in three sibs with CED was below normal. Because of the small sample size, the difference in bone strength was not statistically significant [Herrera et al 2017]. Increased susceptibility to fracture has not been reported. Healing of fractures, when they occur, may be delayed [Wallace et al 2004].
Neurologic. Sclerosis of the cranial nerve foramina can lead to direct nerve compression or neurovascular compromise. Cranial nerve deficits occur in 38% of affected individuals. The most common deficits are hearing loss, vision problems, and facial paralysis.
Approximately 19%-54% of individuals with CED have conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss [Carlson et al 2010, Liang et al 2022]. Conductive loss can be caused by narrowing of the external auditory meatus, bony encroachment of the ossicles, or narrowing of the oval and round windows. Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by narrowing of the internal auditory canal and compression of the cochlear nerve and/or vasculature. Sensorineural hearing loss can also occur with attempted decompression of the facial nerves.
Vestibulopathy including tinnitus and vertigo have also been reported in several individuals [Carlson et al 2010, Kim et al 2018].
Involvement of the orbit has led to blurred vision, proptosis, papilledema, epiphora, glaucoma, subluxation of the globe, and retinal detachment [Carlson et al 2010, Popiela & Austin 2015, Kim et al 2018].
Facial paralysis has been successfully treated by surgical decompression of the facial nerve in one affected individual [Achahbar et al 2021].
Calvarial hyperostosis can lead to increased intracranial pressure, chronic headaches that can be severe, and frontal bossing. Chronic intracranial hypertension led to a bone defect and meningoencephalocele in one individual at age 57 years [Yanagihara et al 2022]. Recurrent cranial hyperostosis following surgical decompression can occur [Wong et al 2017].
Rarely, clonus [Neuhauser et al 1948], sensory loss, slurred speech, dysphagia, cerebellar ataxia, and bowel and bladder incontinence are reported [Carlson et al 2010].
Corticosteroids may delay bone hyperostosis and prevent or delay the onset of skull involvement. Although histologic studies following steroid therapy showed increased bone resorption and secondary remodeling with increased osteoblast activity and decreased lamellar bone deposition, several authors reported no regression of sclerosis on radiographic evaluation [Verbruggen et al 1985] or on scintigraphic evaluation [Baş et al 1999]. Lindstrom [1974] and Baş et al [1999] reported diminished sclerosis on radiographs following steroid therapy. Verbruggen et al [1985] and Inaoka et al [2001] reported reduced radioactivity on bone scintigraphy.
Endocrine manifestations. Hypopituitarism has been described in several individuals, resulting in short stature, delayed pubertal development, and hypocortisolism [Yuldashev et al 2017, Li et al 2022]. Hypopituitarism has been attributed to skull base osteosclerosis resulting in a small sella and/or pituitary compression due to intracranial hypertension [Das et al 2021]. In addition, hypopituitarism may be secondary to direct effects of TGFB1 on the pituitary gland. Hypogonadism and lack of pubertal development has also been attributed to reduced adipose tissue and/or direct effects of TGFB1 on the gonads [Das et al 2021]. Combination corticosteroid therapy and losartan led to initiation of pubertal development in a female age 18 years [Cui et al 2022]. Hypothyroidism is also rarely described as a result of pituitary effects or autoimmune hypothyroidism [Das et al 2021].
Facial features. Children with CED do not typically have recognizable changes to their facial features. In older individuals who are severely affected, osteosclerosis of the skull can lead to macrocephaly, frontal bossing, enlargement of the mandible, proptosis, and cranial nerve impingement resulting in facial palsy.
Less common manifestations in individuals with CED include anemia (hypothesized to be caused by a narrowed medullary cavity), hepatosplenomegaly, atrophic skin, hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet, delayed dental eruption, and extensive dental caries.
Ribbing disease, an osteosclerotic disease of the long bones that is radiographically indistinguishable from CED and usually presents with bone pain after puberty [Makita et al 2000], is now known to be caused by pathogenic variants in TGFB1 [Janssens et al 2006]. Thus, CED and Ribbing disease represent phenotypic variations of the same disorder.
Other. Osteoblastoma of the distal radius and enchondroma of the fifth finger have each been reported in one individual with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of CED and no TGFB1 pathogenic variant identified [Nagasawa et al 2010, Yonezawa et al 2021].
The authors are aware of one teenager with CED who died following dissection of a dilated ascending aorta [Authors, personal communication]. To date, it is unknown if dilatation of the aorta is a rare manifestation of CED. The authors are unaware of any additional individuals with aortic disease. Because the mechanism of CED involves increased TGFB1 signaling, also found in Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome, incidence of aortic disease in those with CED should continue to be reassessed. At this time no recommendations for routine evaluation of the aorta can be made.
Pregnancy. One individual who experienced relief with steroids also experienced decreased bone pain and improved muscle strength while pregnant, which allowed discontinuation of her steroid therapy. Scintigraphic bone imaging with methylene diphosphate (MDP) a few hours after delivery of her second child showed decreased uptake compared to imaging prior to pregnancy and six weeks postpartum.