Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis (MIOP) is a very rare, genetic, bone disease. Approximately 1 out of 250,000 children are born with MIOP.
“Normal” bones have proper working osteoblasts, which build new bone and osteoclasts, which breaks down bone tissue. A baby born with MIOP does not have proper functioning osteoclasts. Therefore, bone continues to build without ever breaking down. Among many other health problems, this causes bone fractures, vision and hearing problems, and difficulty fighting infections.
