Shwachman-Diamond syndrome

The major function of bone marrow is to produce new blood cells. These include red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body's tissues; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which are blood cells that are necessary for normal blood clotting. In Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, the bone marrow malfunctions and does not make some or all types of white blood cells. A shortage of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell, causes a condition called neutropenia. Most people with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome have at least occasional episodes of neutropenia, which makes them more vulnerable to infections, often involving the lungs (pneumonia), ears (otitis media), or skin. Less commonly, bone marrow abnormalities lead to a shortage of red blood cells (anemia), which causes fatigue and weakness, or a reduction in the amount of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can result in easy bruising and abnormal bleeding.

The major function of bone marrow is to produce new blood cells. These include red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body's tissues; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which are blood cells that are necessary for normal blood clotting. In Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, the bone marrow malfunctions and does not make some or all types of white blood cells. A shortage of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell, causes a condition called neutropenia. Most people with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome have at least occasional episodes of neutropenia, which makes them more vulnerable to infections, often involving the lungs (pneumonia), ears (otitis media), or skin. Less commonly, bone marrow abnormalities lead to a shortage of red blood cells (anemia), which causes fatigue and weakness, or a reduction in the amount of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which can result in easy bruising and abnormal bleeding.
People with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome have an increased risk of several serious complications related to their malfunctioning bone marrow. Specifically, they have a higher-than-average chance of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and aplastic anemia, which are disorders caused by abnormal blood stem cells, and a cancer of blood-forming tissue known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Shwachman-Diamond syndrome also affects the pancreas, which is an organ that plays an essential role in digestion. One of this organ's main functions is to produce enzymes that help break down and use nutrients from food. In most infants with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, the pancreas does not produce enough of these enzymes. This condition is known as pancreatic insufficiency. Infants with pancreatic insufficiency have trouble digesting food and absorbing nutrients and vitamins that are needed for growth. As a result, they often have fatty, foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea); are slow to grow and gain weight (failure to thrive); and experience malnutrition. Pancreatic insufficiency often improves with age in people with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome.
Skeletal abnormalities are another common feature of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Many affected individuals have problems with bone formation and growth, most often affecting the hips and knees. Low bone density is also frequently associated with this condition. Some affected infants are born with a narrow rib cage and short ribs, which can cause life-threatening problems with breathing. The combination of skeletal abnormalities and slow growth results in short stature in most people with this disorder.
The complications of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome can affect several other parts of the body, including the liver, heart, endocrine system (which produces hormones), eyes, teeth, and skin. Additionally, studies suggest that Shwachman-Diamond syndrome may be associated with delayed speech and the delayed development of motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking.

Frequency
Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is a rare condition that is thought to occur in approximately 1 in 80,000 newborns. Because the signs and symptoms are variable and can be mild in some affected individuals, doctors suspect the condition is underdiagnosed.

Causes
Mutations in the SBDS gene have been identified in about 90 percent of people with the characteristic features of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that is critical in building ribosomes. Ribosomes are cellular structures that process the cell's genetic instructions to create proteins. SBDS gene mutations reduce the amount or impair the function of the SBDS protein. It is unclear how these changes lead to the major signs and symptoms of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Researchers suspect that a shortage of functional SBDS impairs ribosome formation, which may reduce the production of other proteins and alter developmental processes.
Other genes involved in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome appear to play roles in the assembly or function of ribosomes. Mutations in each of these genes account for a very small percentage of cases of the condition. In some cases, no mutations in any of the genes associated with the condition are found, and the cause of the disorder is unknown.

Inheritance Pattern
Most cases of Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, including those caused by mutations in the SBDS gene, are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. Typically, the parents of the affected individual each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they do not show signs and symptoms of the condition. In some cases, one parent does not carry a copy of the mutated gene. Instead a new (de novo) mutation occurs in the gene during the formation of reproductive cells (eggs or sperm) in the parent or during early embryonic development.
Rarely, the condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. These cases usually result from de novo mutations in the gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family.