What Is Hypophosphatasia?
8. What Are the Symptoms of Perinatal Hypophosphatasia?
Perinatal hypophosphatasia, like prenatal benign hypophosphatasia, occurs in the womb before the child is born. It is, however, much more severe, and can lead to stillbirth in some cases. The condition is due to an extreme degree of inactivity of alkaline phosphatase. Cases of stillbirth usually result from underdeveloped lungs due to chest deformities. Such lungs are unable to take in enough oxygen, which leads to respiratory failure.
Those infants who survive childbirth may still exhibit underdeveloped ribs. It is also common for them to have other skeletal malformations such as bowed legs and arms. Even those infants who are born with respiratory problems can sometimes survive for a few days. In almost every case, however, early death is the prognosis.
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