What is the cause of Fanconi anemia?

Fanconi anemia is an inherited disease caused by changes (mutations) in certain genes, known as FA genes. Experts have found 23 different FA genes. The disease occurs when there is a change (mutation) in one of these 23 genes. Children inherit Fanconi anemia from their parents.

What is Fanconi anemia pathway?

The Fanconi anaemia pathway comprises 19 Fanconi anaemia proteins (FANCA to FANCT) and many associated proteins. Germline inactivation of any of the Fanconi anaemia genes causes the disease Fanconi anaemia, which is a genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and predisposition to cancer.

What are the symptoms of Fanconi anemia?

What are the symptoms of Fanconi anemia in a child? Your child’s symptoms may include: Bone marrow related symptoms. These may include tiredness or fatigue, frequent infections, and bleeding problems.

Who discovered Fanconi anemia?

Guido Fanconi is a Swiss pediatrician who is regarded as one of the forefathers of modern pediatrics with several medical disorders bearing his name. In 1927, he described hereditary panmyelopathy with short stature and hyperpigmentation, currently known as Fanconi anemia.

What is the best treatment for Fanconi?

Stem cell transplant is the current standard treatment for Fanconi anemia that is causing major bone marrow failure. Growth factors—are natural or man-made growth substances that help the body make more red and white blood cells.

Is Fanconi anemia dominant or recessive?

Fanconi anemia is most often inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern , which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations.

How the Fanconi anemia pathway guards the genome?

The Fanconi Anemia pathway is thought to coordinate a complex mechanism that enlists elements of three classic DNA repair pathways, namely homologous recombination, nucleotide excision repair, and mutagenic translesion synthesis, in response to genotoxic insults.

What is difference between Fanconi syndrome and Fanconi anemia?

Fanconi anemia is a rare disease passed down through families (inherited) that mainly affects the bone marrow. It results in decreased production of all types of blood cells. This is the most common inherited form of aplastic anemia. Fanconi anemia is different from Fanconi syndrome, a rare kidney disorder.

When is Fanconi anemia diagnosed?

People who have Fanconi anemia (FA) are born with the disorder. They may or may not show signs or symptoms of it at birth. For this reason, FA isn’t always diagnosed when a person is born. In fact, most people who have the disorder are diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 15 years.

Which drugs cause Fanconi syndrome?

Drugs that induce mitochondrial dysfunction have the potential to cause Fanconi syndrome. The most common drugs are outdated tetracycline antibiotics, chemotherapy agents, antiviral drugs, aminoglycosides, and anticonvulsants. These medications may induce Fanconi syndrome by a variety of different mechanisms.

What are the characteristics of Fanconi syndrome?

The most striking clinical feature of Fanconi syndrome is failure to thrive. Children with Fanconi syndrome usually have a short stature, are frail, have a low muscle tone, and have signs of florid rickets, such as frontal bossing, rosaries, leg bowing, and widening of the wrists, knees, and ankles.