Radiographic, MRI, and CT findings in a young dog with Becker-like muscular dystrophy.

An 8-month-old, male, crossbreed dog was presented for macroglossia, reduced mandibular extension, ptyalism, dysphagia, and regurgitation. Serum creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activity were markedly increased. Thoracic radiographs showed an axial gastro-esophageal hiatal hernia, diaphragmatic thickening, and asymmetry. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed a severely enlarged tongue, symmetric increase in size of the geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles, and diffuse masticatory hypomyotrophy. Whole-body CT ruled out other musculoskeletal abnormalities and further characterized the radiographic and MRI findings. Muscular histopathology was consistent with Becker muscular dystrophy.

First Family of MATR3-Related Distal Myopathy From Italy: The Role of Muscle Biopsy in the Diagnosis and Characterization of a Still Poorly Understood Disease.

Mutations in the MATR3 gene are associated to distal myopathy with vocal cord and pharyngeal weakness (VCPDM), as well as familiar and sporadic motor neuron disease. To date, 12 VCPDM families from the United States, Germany, Japan, Bulgary, and France have been described in the literature. Here we report an Italian family with a propositus of a 40-year-old woman presenting progressive bilateral foot drop, rhinolalia, and distal muscular atrophy, without clinical signs of motor neuron affection. Her father, deceased some years before, presented a similar distal myopathy phenotype, while her 20-year-old son is asymptomatic. Myopathic changes with vacuolization were observed in muscle biopsy from the propositus. These results, together with the peculiar clinical picture, lead to MATR3 gene sequencing, which revealed a heterozygous p.S85C mutation in the propositus. The same mutation was found in her son. Over a 5-year follow-up, progression is mild in the propositus, while her son remains asymptomatic. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data of our propositus are presented and compared to previously reported cases of VCPDM. VCPDM turns out to be a quite homogenous phenotype of late-onset myopathy associated to p.S85C mutation in MATR3 gene. MATR3-related pathology, encompassing myopathy and motor neuron disease, represents an illustrative example of multisystem proteinopathy (MSP), such as other diseases associated to mutations in VCP, HNRNPA2B1, HNRNPA1, and SQSTM1 genes. The present report contributes to a further characterization of this still poorly understood pathology and points out the diagnostic utility of muscle biopsy in challenging cases.

Principales miopatías: aproximación clínica, diagnóstico y manejo / Main myopathies: clinical approach, diagnosis and management

Myopathies make up an entity that, although rare, can have great clinical significance. These diseases can present a somewhat complex clinical and therapeutic approach due to the etiological versatility and the concomitant symptoms that can sometimes exist. The role of the clinical interview and physical examination is crucial in guiding our diagnostic suspicion. This article will present, in the first instance, the general approach to any type of myopathy in order to request the complementary tests required; and secondly, the clinical characteristics and entities that make up the main groups of myopathies, as well as their therapeutic approach. (AU)

Las miopatías conforman una entidad que, aunque poco frecuente, pueden tener gran trascendencia clínica. Estas pueden presentar un abordaje clínico y terapéutico algo complejo debido a la versatilidad etiológica y a la clínica concomitante que en ocasiones puede existir. El papel de la entrevista clínica y la exploración física es crucial de cara a orientar nuestra sospecha diagnóstica. Dentro del presente artículo se presentará, en primera instancia, el abordaje general de cualquier tipo de miopatía de cara a solicitar las pruebas complementarias requeridas; y en segundo lugar, las características clínicas y las entidades que conforman los principales grupos de miopatías, así como su abordaje terapéutico. (AU)

Muscular vasculitis confined to lower limbs: description of two case reports and a review of the literature.

Muscular involvement is common during systemic vasculitides, such as polyarteritis nodosa. However, in rare cases, muscular involvement can be the only clinically evident feature of the disease. The clinical pattern of isolated muscular vasculitis may mimic several other inflammatory muscle disorders, such as idiopathic inflammatory myositis, and may represent a challenge in differential diagnosis. Herewith, we present two clinical cases as examples of peculiar clinical and histopathological characteristics of isolated muscular vasculitis. Our patients were successfully treated with steroids and immunosuppressive agents. Moreover, we provide a review of the recent existing medical literature. Our cases suggest the importance of performing muscle biopsy in patients with muscular symptoms to guide the diagnosis and the treatment.

Sjögren's syndrome-associated myositis with germinal centre-like structures.

OBJECTIVE: Muscular impairment is a rare systemic manifestation of SS that is rarely described in the literature and classically non-specific, both clinically and histologically. We reviewed the cases of 4 patients with primary SS presenting with myositis and a common histologic pattern on muscular biopsy with germinal centre-like structures resembling that which occurs in salivary glands. METHODS: We analysed the data files of patients with SS who had muscular manifestations and underwent a muscular biopsy. Among 23 patients with SS who had muscle biopsies, 13 had non-specific myositis and 10 (4 primary and 6 secondary SS) had a common histologic pattern consisting of germinal centre-like structures. We analysed the data files of the 4 patients with primary SS presenting with myositis with muscular germinal-centre like structures. RESULTS: The 4 patients had an unspecific clinical presentation, with myalgias, muscular weakness and normal or elevated values of CPK. In the four patients, SS-associated myositis had common histologic characteristics, with endomysial and perimysial inflammatory infiltrate. The cellular infiltrate was composed predominantly of CD4+ T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. The B and T CD4+ cells infiltrates may gather into masses, even forming lymphoid follicles. Three patients were treated with corticosteroids and/or hydroxychloroquine with improvement of myositis and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We describe four patients with a common histologic appearance of myositis with lymphoid follicles associated with primary SS. The clinical presentation was non-specific and non-severe, with favorable outcome with corticosteroids and/or hydroxycholoroquine. The discovery of this particular histologic appearance in a muscle biopsy independent of the final diagnosis should indicate the possibility of SS.

Debilidad muscular y miopatía: nunca solicitar biopsia sin antes dosaje enzimático / Muscule weakness and myopathy: never get biopsy without previous enzyme assessment

La presencia de debilidad muscular progresiva asociada a valores elevados de creatininafosfoquinasa es una consulta frecuente en los servicios de Reumatología, debido a la sospecha de miopatías inflamatorias. La confirmación del diagnóstico se realiza por medio del hallazgo de infiltrado inflamatorio en la biopsia muscular, lo que lleva a un rápido inicio del tratamiento inmunosupresor. Otras entidades no relacionadas a procesos inflamatorios primarios pueden mostrar signos y síntomas similares y aún presentar signos de inflamación y necrosis en la biopsia muscular, lo que lleva a un tratamiento erróneo. La glucogenosis tipo II o enfermedad de Pompe debe ser incluida en la lista de diagnósticos diferenciales ante esta presentación clínica. La evaluación de la actividad enzimática por medio del dosaje en papel de filtro es una técnica simple que permite el arribo al diagnóstico sin necesidad de biopsia muscular, lo que llevará a un inicio de la terapia de reemplazo enzimático específica.

Muscle weakness related to high levels of creatinekinase is a commonconsultation in Reumatology departments, due suspicion of inflammatorymyopathies. Diagnosis confirmation requires inflammatory infiltratefindings in muscle biopsy, followed by immunosuppressor treatment.Other disorders not related to primary inflammatory process may showsimilar signs and symptoms, even necrosis and inflammation in musclebiopsy, resulting in a wrong treatment. Glycogenosis type II or Pompedisease should be included as another differential diagnosis. Enzymeactivity measurement using dried blood spot in filter paper is an easytechnique that results in diagnosis without the need of muscle biopsy,allowing the enzyme replacement therapy indication.

The clinical pathological characteristics and follow-up of 4 cases of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy / 中华内科杂志

Objective To characterize the clinical,electrophysiology and neuropathological features of 4 cases with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical,electrophysiology,neuropathological characteristics of 4 IMNM patients with muscular and skin biopsy in our department during 4 years (from January 2011 to January 2014).Results Among these 4 patients,2 were men and 2 were women (aged 37 to 58 years) with disease duration ranging from 1 month to 60 months.Two patients were with acute onset and 2 with chronic onset.All 4 patients had proximal muscle weakness with three patients with cervical flexor muscle weakness and one with respiratory muscles weakness and noninvasive ventilator assisted respiration.One patient had interstitial lung disease.The anti-signal recognition particle antibodies were strong positive in all 4 patients.Muscle biopsy showed group necrotizing and regenerating fibers in one patient and few scattered necrotizing and regenerating fibers in the other 3 patients.Both muscle fiber hypertrophy and muscle fiber atrophy together with proliferation of connective tissue on endomysium could be viewed in all 4 patients.However,very few inflammatory cells were detectable in patients.One patient was treated with corticosteroids and the other three were treated with combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs.Conclusions IMNM is characterized by heterogeneity at disease onset,severity and ilnvolvement of muscles with,however,similary pathological changes including the presence of numerous necrotic and regenerating fibers with little or none inflammation.Corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressant is effective for patients.

Autism associated to a deficiency of complexes III and IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain

Autism is the prototype of generalized developmental disorders or what today are called autism spectrum disorders. In most cases it is impossible to detect a specific etiology. It is estimated that a causative diagnosis may be shown in approximately 10-37 percent of the cases, including, congenital rubella, tuberous sclerosis, chromosome abnormalities such as fragile X syndrome and 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, Angelman, Williams, Smith-Magenis, Sotos, Cornelia de Lange, Mõbius, Joubert and Goldenhar syndromes, Ito’s hypomelanosis, as well as certain cerebral malformations and several inherited metabolic disorders. The case of a 3-year old girl is described, who was considered as autistic according to the criteria established by the DSM-IV manual for psychiatric disorders. She showed a delay in psychomotor development since she was 18 months old; she pronounces very few words (10), points to some objects, does not look up and it is hard to establish eye contact with her. She has paradoxical deafness and therefore, does not respond when called or when she is given orders, she is beginning to walk. She has not convulsions. Laboratory tests showed an anion gap of 31.6 mEq/L, lactate: 2.55: mmol/L, pyruvate: 0.06 mmol/L, and elevated lactate to/pyruvate ratio: 42.5. Under optical microscopy a muscular biopsy showed a reduction of the diameter of muscular fibers. The study of energy metabolism showed a partial deficiency of complexes III and IV of the respiratory chain, which allowed us to conclude that this was a mitochondrial dysfunction with an autistic clinical spectrum.

El autismo es el prototipo de los trastornos generalizados del desarrollo o de lo que hoy se denominan trastornos del espectro autista. En la mayoría de los casos no es posible detectar una etiología específica. Se estima que aproximadamente entre el 10 y el 37 por ciento de los casos se puede demostrar una causa específica,como la rubéola congénita, la esclerosis tuberosa, anomalías cromosómicas como el sindrome del cromasoma X frágil y la microdelección 22q13.3, los sindromes de Angelman, Williams, Smith-Magenis, Sotos, Cornelia de Lange, Mõebius, Joubert y Goldenhar, la hipomelanosis de Ito, así como algunas malformaciones cerebrales y varios trastornos metabólicos. Se describe un preescolar de 3 años de edad, de sexo femenino,catalogada como autista de acuerdo a los criterios establecidos por el manual DSM-IV para trastornos psiquiátricos. Presentaba un retraso en la adquisición de su desarrollo psicomotor desde los 18 meses, pronunciaba pocas palabras (10), señalaba algunos objetos, no utilizaba la mirada y era dificil establecer contacto ocular con ella, mostraba sordera paradójica, por lo que no respondia cuando se le llamaba ni cuando se le daban órdenes. Empezaba a caminar y no había presentado convulsiones. Los exámenes de laboratorio mostraban anión gap: 31,6 mEq/L, lactato: 2,55 mmol/L, piruvato: 0,06 mmol/L y una relación lactato/piruvato elevada de: 42,50 mmol/L. La biopsia muscular practicada reportó en la microscopía óptica disminución del diámetro de las fibras musculares y el estudio del metabolismo energético demostró una deficiencia parcial en los complejos III y IV de la cadena respiratoria, el cual nos permitió concluir que se trataba de una disfunción mitocondrial con espectro autista.