RESUMO
Objective To investigate the clinical features and analyze the molecular genetics of a pedigree of limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD).Methods Pedigree analysis and clinical examination were performed in one four-generation family with LGMD.Electrophysiology and muscle biopsy were done in the affected members.With an informed consent, gene mutation, genome screening and linkage analysis were conducted in 26 members of this pedigree.Results Seven patients were identified.Pedigree analysis was consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.Affected members had early presentation.Main features included proximal muscle weakness without dysarthria nor spasticity; electrophysiology and muscle biopsy revealed myopathic changes.LGMD1 A, 1B, 1C and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy genes were not detected by gene mutation analysis.Genome screening and linkage analysis did not reveal any linkage with the disease-causing gene and the reported loci of LGMD1D and LGMD1F genes.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of this LGMD family are highly heterogeneous, and the disease-causing gene of this family is not linked to any of the reported sites, suggesting this may be a new disease-causing locus, or a new genetic type of LGMD.