What is rMED?
Introduction
The following information was compiled from mulitple online resources. Links to those resources can be found in the Additional Resources section below.
Compared to what was available in 2007-2008 when Elliot was first diagnosed, the amount of information about rMED is fairly extensive. However, relative to many other more common diseases, the information specific to treatment plans for rMED are limited. Much of the information is written for and by the medical profession and is difficult to decipher for the average person. We have chosen the most relevant details to Elliot in the excerpts below. Our own observations of Elliot and all we have learned from the many doctors and specialists supplement this background.
The Disease
Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) is a disorder of cartilage and bone development primarily affecting the ends of the long bones in the arms and legs (epiphyses). Epiphyses are also known as "growth plates." There are two types of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, which can be distinguished by their pattern of inheritance, dominant and recessive. MED belongs to the osteochondrodysplasia group of disorders (osteo = bone, chondro = cartilage, dysplasia = abnormal growth).
Elliot's Road
Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) is a disorder of cartilage and bone development primarily affecting the ends of the long bones in the arms and legs (epiphyses). Epiphyses are also known as "growth plates." There are two types of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia, which can be distinguished by their pattern of inheritance, dominant and recessive. MED belongs to the osteochondrodysplasia group of disorders (osteo = bone, chondro = cartilage, dysplasia = abnormal growth).