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Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Essay

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In 1886, the first case of Progeria was diagnosed by Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson. Progeria is a pre-mature aging system which is both rare and fatal. He began documenting features of a six year old boy who had symptoms of hair loss and atrophy of skin. Then, in 1897, Dr. Hastings Gilford pronounced Progeria as a clinical entity. The name Progeria comes from the Greek term “progeros" meaning, “prematurely old”. Virtually nothing was known about Progeria 30 years ago. Since it is an extremely rare disease, research didn’t begin until the 1990’s. This very rare disease occurs during childhood and is characterized by dramatic, premature aging. Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is the most severe form of the disease. Currently, the condition …show more content…

Developmental symptoms include short stature, slow growth, or underdeveloped jaw. Wrinkles or dryness of skin is also a common symptom. Other symptoms include hair loss, delayed tooth development, enlarged head, hearing loss, high-pitched voice, incomplete sexual maturation, joint stiffness, loss of muscle, osteoarthritis, or taut skin. A doctor may suspect progeria if multiple symptoms are present. A genetic test can then confirm these observations made by your doctor. The Progeria Research Foundation has done a nice job by creating a diagnostic testing …show more content…

This is because progeria increases the risk of many health conditions. For example, they tend to dislocate their hips easily. Most patients end up experiencing heart disorders and strokes. It’s very common for children with progeria to develop atherosclerosis, or hardened and narrowed arteries. Most affected children eventually die from heart disease. A famous patient with Progeria is Sam Berns. He made it to 17 years old, which is great for the life expectancy he was given and the case he was diagnosed with. Although Progeria still has no clear cure, there is high hope for the Progeria

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