Table of Contents
What causes von Recklinghausen disease?
The cause of VRD is a genetic mutation. Mutations are changes in your genes. The genes make up your DNA, which defines every physical aspect of your body. In VRD, a mutation occurs on the neurofibromin gene, causing an increase in the development of cancerous and noncancerous tumors.
What kind of condition is Recklinghausen disease?
Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), historically called von Recklinghausen’s disease, is a genetic disorder characterized by increased risk of developing noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors, as well as various other physical and neurological manifestations.
What is the life expectancy of a person with neurofibromatosis?
If there are no complications, the life expectancy of people with NF is almost normal. With the right education, people with NF can live a normal life. Although mental impairment is generally mild, NF1 is a known cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Is NF1 life threatening?
In most cases, symptoms of NF1 are relatively mild, allowing patients to live normal and productive lives. However, the disorder can also be debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening. NF1 can lead to problems within various systems, organs and functions of the body including: Skin, bone and eye abnormalities.
Does neurofibromatosis worsen with age?
Neurofibromas may increase in number with age. Bone deformities. Abnormal bone development and a deficiency in bone mineral density can cause bone deformities such as a curved spine (scoliosis) or a bowed lower leg. Tumor on the optic nerve (optic glioma).
Can people with NF1 live a normal life?
Can you live a normal life with NF1?
What do people with neurofibromatosis look like?
Signs and symptoms include: Flat, light brown spots on the skin (cafe au lait spots). These harmless spots are common in many people. Having more than six cafe au lait spots suggests NF1 .
How serious is NF1?
The symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are often mild and cause no serious health problems. But some people will have severe symptoms. The symptoms of NF1 can affect many different areas of the body, but it’s unlikely someone will develop all of them.
Can you live a normal life with neurofibromatosis?
Children and adults with NF1 can have a variety of symptoms and medical problems which can change across a lifespan. Most people with NF1 have a normal life expectancy. Because many of the other clinical features of NF1 develop as an individual gets older, getting the correct diagnosis may take several years.
Does neurofibromatosis go away?
It is impossible to predict the course of NF1 in anyone with the disorder. Manifestations of neurofibromatosis generally do not disappear once they develop, although cafe-au-lait spots sometimes fade in later life. Neurofibromas can appear at any time, as can symptoms of nerve compression.
Is NF1 fatal?
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) In most cases, symptoms of NF1 are relatively mild, allowing patients to live normal and productive lives. However, the disorder can also be debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening.
What is the average lifespan for a person with NF1?
Mean and median ages at death for persons with NF1 were 54.4 and 59 years, respectively, compared with 70.1 and 74 years in the general population.