The SAPHO Syndrome and Genetics – discoveries in Need of Replication

SAPHO and its relative CMRO are uncommon but not rare chronic conditions with unknown etiology. Environmental factors, perhaps related to microorganisms, may be important triggers, but there is no support for a septic nature. The monogenic animal models called cmo and Lupo with autosomal recessive transmission have not been replicated in human diease. Interesting but unconfirmed studies indicate impaired p53 formation, increased IL-10 production and decreased capacity to mount ROS responses in different patients whith SAPHO. There is more evidence supporting an autoinflammatory than an autoimmune pathogenesis of SAPHO. Susceptibility genes on chromosomes 1 and 18 need to be confirmed. More studies in larger numbers of patients are needed to confirm the often anecdotal observations reviewed here. It is hoped that this review may stimulate such work.