You may be unaware that your bones are black. Because that is exactly what occurred to Tiktoker, who is known as “archiebeshort,” and we now know about this unusual illness thanks to Archie.
TikToker, according to IFLScience, shared his dentist experience with his followers, when he discovered he had black bones.
“My bones are black. My body’s bones, for instance, are black, “explained he. And the reason is that I have a condition known as “minocycline black bone disease.”
Archie used minocycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, to treat his acne in high school. For years, he appeared to have no negative consequences, assuming nothing of it. When Archie’s wisdom teeth began to erupt, he sensed there was a problem.
“When my wisdom tooth came in, it was black, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, my teeth are rotting,'” he stated in the TikTok video. “And it turns out that my jaw is black, as is much of my skull and most of my bones, according to my doctor.”
What exactly is it?
“Alkaptonuria is a monogenic condition that causes an enzyme shortage, resulting in 2,000 times the usual rate of homogentisic acid (HGA) buildup. The HGA binds to cartilage, bone, & pigments, turning them black in a process known as ochronosis, hence the disease’s name, Black Bone Disease “According to the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases.
A person with alkaptonuria may suffer joint problems in their 30s, according to the NHS. They frequently experience lower back pain and stiffness initially, followed by knee, hip, & shoulder pain.
These are the earliest signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. Cartilage, a resilient, adaptive tissue found throughout the body, can degrade and fracture with time, causing damage to the spine & joints. Joint replacement surgery may become necessary.
One woman, 52, had been using the acne medicine minocycline for roughly 32 years when she underwent knee surgery, according to a case study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. Her surgeons discovered she had “black bone disease,” which had caused her bones to become black during the treatment, according to IFLScience.
Despite the fact that the surgery was carried out and was successful, they advise other surgeons to be aware of the scenario and the possible consequences of minocycline rather than other more concerning causes for bone discoloration.
The team stated in their case report that “minocycline black bone disease is an unusual finding that can raise concern when unexpectedly discovered.”
Although there are currently no reports of adverse outcomes in patients with this condition, surgeons should rule out other reasons of bone discolouration when the history is unclear.
