Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

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What is Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is a bone disorder that affects the hips. Usually, only one hip is involved, but in about 10 percent of cases, both hips are affected. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease begins in childhood, typically between ages 4 and 8, and affects boys more frequently than girls.

In this condition, the upper end of the thigh bone, known as the femoral head, breaks down. As a result, the femoral head is no longer round and does not move easily in the hip socket, which leads to hip pain, limping, and restricted leg movement. The bone eventually begins to heal itself through a normal process called bone remodeling, by which old bone is removed and new bone is created to replace it. This cycle of breakdown and healing can recur multiple times. Affected individuals are often shorter than their peers due to the bone abnormalities. Many people with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease go on to develop a painful joint disorder called osteoarthritis in the hips at an early age.

How common is Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

The incidence of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease varies by population. The condition is most common in Caucasian (white) populations, in which it affects an estimated 1 to 3 in 20,000 children under age 15.

What genes are related to Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is usually not caused by genetic factors. The cause in these cases is unknown. In a small percentage of cases, mutations in the COL2A1 gene cause the bone abnormalities characteristic of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The COL2A1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that forms type II collagen. This type of collagen is found mostly in cartilage, a tough but flexible tissue that makes up much of the skeleton during early development. Most cartilage is later converted to bone, except for the cartilage that continues to cover and protect the ends of bones and is present in the nose and external ears. Type II collagen is essential for the normal development of bones and other connective tissues that form the body's supportive framework.

COL2A1 gene mutations involved in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease lead to production of an altered protein; collagen that contains this protein may be less stable than normal. Researchers speculate that the breakdown of bone characteristic of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is caused by impaired blood flow to the femoral head, which leads to death of the bone tissue (osteonecrosis); however it is unclear how abnormal type II collagen is involved in this process or why the hips are specifically affected.

How do people inherit Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

When associated with COL2A1 gene mutations, the condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered COL2A1 gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Most COL2A1-associated cases result from new mutations in the gene and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. These cases are referred to as sporadic. In other cases, the condition is passed through families. In these cases, referred to as familial, an affected person inherits the mutation from one affected parent.

Where can I find information about diagnosis or management of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

These resources address the diagnosis or management of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and may include treatment providers.

You might also find information on the diagnosis or management of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease inEducational resources and Patient support.

General information about the diagnosis and management of genetic conditions is available in the Handbook.

To locate a healthcare provider, see How can I find a genetics professional in my area? in the Handbook.

Where can I find additional information about Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

You may find the following resources about Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease helpful. These materials are written for the general public.

MedlinePlus - Health information (2 links)
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center - Information about genetic conditions and rare diseases
Educational resources - Information pages (8 links)
Patient support - For patients and families (3 links)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.

ClinicalTrials.gov - Linking patients to medical research
OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog

What other names do people use for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

Calve-Perthes disease
LCPD
Perthes disease

For more information about naming genetic conditions, see the Genetics Home Reference Condition Naming Guidelines and How are genetic conditions and genes named? in the Handbook.

What if I still have specific questions about Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Where can I find general information about genetic conditions?

The Handbook provides basic information about genetics in clear language.

These links provide additional genetics resources that may be useful.

What glossary definitions help with understanding Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease?

autosomal ; autosomal dominant ; bone remodeling ; breakdown ; cartilage ; cell ; collagen ; familial ;gene ; incidence ; inherited ; joint ; mutation ; population ; protein ; sporadic ; tissue

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary.

References (5 links)

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? in the Handbook.