The role of fidgety movements and early motor repertoire in predicting mobility outcomes in infants with myelomeningocele.

OBJECTIVE: To describe fidgety movements and co-occurring movements and postures in infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) and their association with mobility at preschool ages. METHODS: A retrospective cohort with early assessment via general movement assessment, followed by mobility assessment between 36 and 70 months of age. RESULTS: Twelve infants were included; 12 of 12 had fidgety movements in the upper limbs, with seven exhibiting them also in the hips and three in both the hips and ankles. The presence of fidgety movements in the lower limbs, kicking, a non-flat posture, a non-monotonous movement character, and a non-absent age-adequate movement repertoire were independently associated with mobility using the Hoffer modified classification and functional mobility scale (FMS) at 5 and 50 m. An optimality score was calculated based on leg movements and postures, ranging from 0 to 10 points. Infants who scored at least 4 points achieved household ambulation and FMS (5 m) of at least level 4. Community ambulation and an FMS (50 m) of level 5 were achieved with a score of at least 7.5. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing fidgety movements with other leg movements and postures in infants with MMC provided relevant information that could potentially predict mobility at preschool age and thus could be used for early intervention planning.

The relative frequency of common neuromuscular diagnoses in a reference center.

The diagnostic procedure in neuromuscular patients is complex. Knowledge of the relative frequency of neuromuscular diseases within the investigated population is important to allow the neurologist to perform the most appropriate diagnostic tests. OBJECTIVE: To report the relative frequency of common neuromuscular diagnoses in a reference center. METHODS: A 17-year chart review of patients with suspicion of myopathy. RESULTS: Among 3,412 examinations, 1,603 (46.98%) yielded confirmatory results: 782 (48.78%) underwent molecular studies, and 821 (51.21%) had muscle biopsies. The most frequent diagnoses were: dystrophinopathy 460 (28.70%), mitochondriopathy 330 (20.59%), spinal muscular atrophy 158 (9.86%), limb girdle muscular dystrophy 157 (9.79%), Steinert myotonic dystrophy 138 (8.61%), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 99 (6.17%), and other diagnoses 261 (16.28%). CONCLUSION: Using the presently-available diagnostic techniques in this service, a specific limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtype diagnosis was reached in 61% of the patients. A neuromuscular-appropriate diagnosis is important for genetic counseling, rehabilitation orientation, and early treatment of respiratory and cardiac complications.

The relative frequency of common neuromuscular diagnoses in a reference center / Frequência relativa de diagnósticos neuromusculares comuns em um serviço de referência

ABSTRACT The diagnostic procedure in neuromuscular patients is complex. Knowledge of the relative frequency of neuromuscular diseases within the investigated population is important to allow the neurologist to perform the most appropriate diagnostic tests. Objective: To report the relative frequency of common neuromuscular diagnoses in a reference center. Methods: A 17-year chart review of patients with suspicion of myopathy. Results: Among 3,412 examinations, 1,603 (46.98%) yielded confirmatory results: 782 (48.78%) underwent molecular studies, and 821 (51.21%) had muscle biopsies. The most frequent diagnoses were: dystrophinopathy 460 (28.70%), mitochondriopathy 330 (20.59%), spinal muscular atrophy 158 (9.86%), limb girdle muscular dystrophy 157 (9.79%), Steinert myotonic dystrophy 138 (8.61%), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 99 (6.17%), and other diagnoses 261 (16.28%). Conclusion: Using the presently-available diagnostic techniques in this service, a specific limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtype diagnosis was reached in 61% of the patients. A neuromuscular-appropriate diagnosis is important for genetic counseling, rehabilitation orientation, and early treatment of respiratory and cardiac complications.

RESUMO O procedimento diagnóstico neuromuscular é complexo. O conhecimento da frequência relativa das doenças neuromusculares em uma população é importante para utilização dos testes diagnósticos mais apropriados. Objetivo: Relatar a frequência relativa de doenças neuromusculares em um centro de referência. Métodos: Revisão de prontuários de pacientes com suspeita de miopatia em 17 anos. Resultados: Dentre 3412 exames, 1603 (46,98%) foram confirmatórios: 782 (48,78%) estudos moleculares e 821 (51,21%) biópsias musculares. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram: distrofinopatia 460 (28,70%), mitocondriopatia 330 (20.59%), atrofia muscular espinhal 158 (9,86%), distrofia muscular cintura-membros 157 (9,79%), distrofia miotônica de Steinert 138 (8,61%), distrofia muscular face-escápulo-umeral 99 (6,17%) e outros diagnósticos 261 (16,28%). Conclusão: Utilizando as técnicas diagnósticas atualmente disponíveis em nosso serviço, o diagnóstico específico do subtipo de distrofia muscular cintura-membros foi obtido em 61% dos pacientes. O diagnóstico neuromuscular apropriado é importante para o aconselhamento genético, orientações de reabilitação e tratamento precoce de complicações respiratórias e cardíacas.

Phenotypic Variability of Dystrophinopathy Symptomatic Female Carriers.

BACKGROUND: Dystrophinopathies are X-linked muscular dystrophies characterized by pathogenic mutations in the dystrophin gene. Symptomatic dystrophinopathy female carriers may present with limb-girdle weakness. The diagnosis may be challenging in the absence of affected male relatives. We aimed to describe the phenotypic variability in a series of molecular-confirmed female dystrophinopathy patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of medical records from 1997 to 2015. RESULTS: Ten female dystrophinopathy patients were selected, two with unusual phenotypes: one with early joint contractures muscular dystrophy and the other with very late onset myopathy. Muscle imaging studies demonstrated predominant asymmetric fat replacement. Muscle biopsy immunohistochemistry demonstrated clear mosaic pattern in two cases and only subtle reduction of dystrophin intensity in three. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate diagnosis is fundamental for genetic counseling and cardiologic follow-up. Female patients with dystrophinopathy may present unusual phenotypes such as early contractures and very late onset myopathy.

Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G with myopathic-neurogenic motor unit potentials and a novel muscle image pattern.

BACKGROUND: Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G (LGMD2G) is a subtype of autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the telethonin gene. There are few LGMD2G patients worldwide reported, and this is the first description associated with early tibialis anterior sparing on muscle image and myopathic-neurogenic motor unit potentials. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a 31 years old caucasian male patient with progressive gait disturbance, and severe lower limb proximal weakness since the age of 20 years, associated with subtle facial muscle weakness. Computed tomography demonstrated soleus, medial gastrocnemius, and diffuse thigh muscles involvement with tibialis anterior sparing. Electromyography disclosed both neurogenic and myopathic motor unit potentials. Muscle biopsy demonstrated large groups of atrophic and hypertrophic fibers, frequent fibers with intracytoplasmic rimmed vacuoles full of autophagic membrane and sarcoplasmic debris, and a total deficiency of telethonin. Molecular investigation identified the common homozygous c.157C > T in the TCAP gene. CONCLUSION: This report expands the phenotypic variability of telethoninopathy/ LGMD2G, including: 1) mixed neurogenic and myopathic motor unit potentials, 2) facial weakness, and 3) tibialis anterior sparing. Appropriate diagnosis in these cases is important for genetic counseling and prognosis.

Common recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophies differential diagnosis: why and how?

Limb girdle muscular dystrophies are heterogeneous autosomal hereditary neuromuscular disorders. They produce dystrophic changes on muscle biopsy and they are associated with mutations in several genes involved in muscular structure and function. Detailed clinical, laboratorial, imaging, diagnostic flowchart, photographs, tables, and illustrated diagrams are presented for the differential diagnosis of common autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes diagnosed nowadays at one reference center in Brazil. Preoperative image studies guide muscle biopsy site selection. Muscle involvement image pattern differs depending on the limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtype. Muscle involvement is conspicuous at the posterior thigh in calpainopathy and fukutin-related proteinopathy; anterior thigh in sarcoglycanopathy; whole thigh in dysferlinopathy, and telethoninopathy. The precise differential diagnosis of limb girdle muscular dystrophies is important for genetic counseling, prognostic orientation, cardiac and respiratory management. Besides that, it may probably, in the future, provide specific genetic therapies for each subtype.

Common recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophies differential diagnosis: why and how? / Diagnóstico diferencial das distrofias musculares cintura-membros recessivas comuns: como e por quê?

Limb girdle muscular dystrophies are heterogeneous autosomal hereditary neuromuscular disorders. They produce dystrophic changes on muscle biopsy and they are associated with mutations in several genes involved in muscular structure and function. Detailed clinical, laboratorial, imaging, diagnostic flowchart, photographs, tables, and illustrated diagrams are presented for the differential diagnosis of common autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtypes diagnosed nowadays at one reference center in Brazil. Preoperative image studies guide muscle biopsy site selection. Muscle involvement image pattern differs depending on the limb girdle muscular dystrophy subtype. Muscle involvement is conspicuous at the posterior thigh in calpainopathy and fukutin-related proteinopathy; anterior thigh in sarcoglycanopathy; whole thigh in dysferlinopathy, and telethoninopathy. The precise differential diagnosis of limb girdle muscular dystrophies is important for genetic counseling, prognostic orientation, cardiac and respiratory management. Besides that, it may probably, in the future, provide specific genetic therapies for each subtype.

As distrofias musculares progressivas cintura-membros são desordens neuromusculares hereditárias autossômicas heterogêneas. Elas produzem alterações distróficas à biópsia muscular e estão associadas a mutações em diversos genes envolvidos na estrutura e função muscular. Fluxograma diagnóstico, fotos, tabelas e diagramas ilustrados dos aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais e de imagem são apresentados para o diagnóstico diferencial de distrofias musculares cintura-membros autossômicas recessivas comuns, diagnosticadas atualmente em um centro de referência no Brasil. Exames de imagem pré-operatórios direcionam o local da biópsia muscular. O padrão de envolvimento muscular difere de acordo com o subtipo de distrofia muscular cintura-membros. A substituição fibroadiposa do tecido muscular é mais acentuada no compartimento posterior da coxa na calpainopatia e proteinopatia relacionada à fukutina; anterior da coxa na sarcoglicanopatia; difusa na coxa na disferlinopatia e teletoninopatia. O diagnóstico diferencial preciso das distrofias musculares cintura-membros é importante para o aconselhamento genético, orientação prognóstica, tratamento cardíaco e respiratório. Além disso poderá, no futuro, provavelmente, propiciar terapias gênicas específicas para cada subtipo.