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Living with Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis 7

An inherited bone condition with dense bones that starts in infancy and can affect vision.

Understanding Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis 7

Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis 7 is an inherited bone condition in which bones become denser than usual and grow abnormally.

Osteopetrosis is a group of rare inherited bone disorders. Symptoms and severity vary a lot, and onset for this type is listed as the newborn period and infancy. People can have an enlarged liver and spleen, slowed growth, shaky eye movements, and vision that gets worse over time.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Dense, fracture-prone bones
  • Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
  • Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
  • Slowed growth
  • Shaky eye movements (nystagmus)
  • Vision loss that gets worse over time

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include allergy and immune system specialists, bone and joint specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in TNFRSF11A are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Immune Deficiency Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Allergy and immune system specialists (allergists / immunologists); Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Immune Deficiency Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Immune Deficiency Foundation
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing for the TNFRSF11A gene confirm the diagnosis?
How often should my child's vision be checked?
Which specialists should be on our care team?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesTNFRSF11A

It is caused by changes in the TNFRSF11A gene. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: autosomal recessive osteoclast-poor osteopetrosis with hypogammaglobulinemia; autosomal recessive osteopetrosis type 7; optb7; osteoclast-poor osteopetrosis with hypogammaglobulinemia; osteopetrosis (disease) caused by mutation in tnfrsf11a; osteopetrosis-hypogammaglobulinemia syndrome

Patient organizations

Broader rare-disease groups

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis 7GARD ID 10106 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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