title: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Autosomal recessive trait.
abstract: METHODS
  This study analyzed the mode of inheritance of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) from the pedigree of a family.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The results were correlated to provide a new mode of inheritance of OPLL.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although a nation-wide multicenter survey of OPLL has been carried out in 347 subjects and 1030 relatives in Japan since 1981, no parental consanguinity has been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the family, three siblings and one other member of a family underwent operations for OPLL in our department, and the clinical information regarding other family members was obtained from interviews with these four patients or relatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parents of three affected siblings and another unaffected sister were first cousins, and the father was suspected to be affected as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transmission of OPLL as an autosomal recessive trait in this family, which has not been reported, is suspected; although, the possibility that it is a dominant trait can not be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kinki University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamanishi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017887:Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010375:Pedigree; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed