How is it Contracted?

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva is an autosomal dominant pattern meaning that one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. The mutation occurs in the ACVR1 gene.

The ACVR1 gene is used to ossify cartilage, a mutation of this gene would cause rapid ossification resulting in FOP.

It is usually a genetic disease. They only need one of the altered genes from their parents to inherit the disease. However in most cases fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva is a new mutation or accident of nature.

In fact parents who have a child with FOP typically does not have the disease. A person with FOP has a 50% chance of passing it to their child if they in fact can have a child. Most people with FOP can not have children.

It is generally noticed in infancy or childhood, starting at the neck, then moves downward to the shoulders and limbs.