Unusual Diseases: Stone Man Syndrome

The stone man’s syndrome in medicine is called progressive ossifying fibrodysplasia, or Müncheimer’s disease. This is a genetic pathology that is caused by a mutation of the gene responsible for bone formation. Its essence lies in the fact that the patient ligaments and muscles turn into bones, as a result, a person ossifies or stiffens. Hence the name – stone man syndrome.

This disease is known since the end of the XVII century, then it was first described. The disease is extremely rare. Now, according to various sources, there are 600, 800 or 2500 patients in the world. Continue reading →