Hypertrophic type of peroneal muscular atrophy and spinal muscular atrophy in siblings

We describe a family with one brother suffering from a hypertrophic type of peroneal muscular atrophy, and a sister suffering from a late infantile from of spinal muscular atrophy. There are no other affected members in the relatives studied. This association has not been previously described, and has appeared as a result of a consanguineous marriage.     

成人型脊髓性肌萎缩症临床及遗传学研究

目的总结成人型脊髓性肌萎缩症(SMA,Ⅳ)的临床及遗传学特征。方法收集46例经肌肉活检证实的SMAⅣ进行临床和病理学分析,并对其中3个家系进行遗传学分析。结果SMAⅣ平均发病年龄38.7岁,起病与进展隐匿,预后相对良好,以四肢近端肌萎缩无力为主,肌电图(EMG)检查示神经源性损害,肌活检示小群性肌萎缩,其中2个家系分别为常染色体显性遗传、X-连锁隐性遗传。结论依据临床表现、肌肉病理可确诊SMAⅣ。     

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in adult spinal muscular atrophy

A 42-Year-old woman sith negative family history had the insidious onset of weakness in her lower extremities 8 years before, in 1983. The disorder slowly progressed to include cramps and muscle twitches. The diagnosis of adult spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was made when electromyography showed large rapidly firing motor unit potentials, positive waves, and fibrillation potentials, and when muscle biopsy of the quadriceps revealed severe alterations consistent with neurogenic atrophy. The patient also had severe chronic constipation for many years. More recently she had developed unremitting diarrhea. Gastrointestinal studies showed no evidence of peristaltic contractions in the rectum, delayed gastric emptying, and abnormal jejunal manometry with altered propagation of the migrating myoelectrical complex. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Gene conversion events in adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible occurrence of a conversion event in three patients with adult-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type IV, which represents the mildest form within the spectrum of the SMA phenotype. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We observed three patients with adult onset SMA and apparent isolated deletion of telomeric survival motor neuron (SMN1) exon 7. To distinguish between a deletion and a sequence conversion event of exon 7, these patients were analyzed in greater detail by a simple PCR-based assay. RESULTS: Analysis by DdeI digestion showed products for both telomeric and centromeric copies of exon 8. These findings indicated a gene conversion event as the site for primer R111 was retained at least in one of two alleles. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide first evidence that a conversion event may be also associated with adult-onset SMA, and further support the notion that a gene conversion event is usually associated with a milder SMA phenotype and a later onset of disease.     

儿童型脊肌萎缩症的临床特点

目的 探讨儿童型脊肌萎缩症(CSMA)的临床特点.方法 回顾性分析11例CSMA患者的临床资料.结果 本组患者平均发病年龄为(6.1±5.5)岁,均为慢性起病,主要临床表现为四肢无力、变细及行走不稳;血清肌酶水平5例轻度升高;肌电图检查结果显示8例为神经源性损害,3例未见异常;肌肉病理学检查显示11例患者均出现肌纤维大...     

Peroneal muscular atrophy with hereditary spastic paraparesis (HMSN V) is pathologically heterogeneous

Summary Peroneal muscular atrophy (PMA) associated with hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP) is a nosologically ill-defined disease, which has been classified by Dyck as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type V (HMSN V). Nerve biopsy has been rarely reported in this condition. We examined sural nerve biopsies in four patients, demonstrating the following: severe myelinated fiber loss especially of large fibers, with moderate (one case) or prominent (one case) onion bulb formation; selective decrease of large fibers with moderate Schwann cell hyperplasia (one case); normal myelinated fiber population with minimal changes (one case). After reviewing previously reported cases, we conclude that in PMA with HSP sural nerve biopsy may show features either of hypertrophic type of PMA, of neuronal type, or of spinal type; thus, it seems inappropriate to allocate PMA with HSP in a unique subtype of HMSN. In addition, HSP may be not associated with peripheral neuropathy, and thus the classification in the HMSN group may be incongrous. A proper classification of PMA with HSP may be in the complicated forms of HSP according to Harding [Lancet I: 1151–1155 (1983)]; however, the nosology of this condition needs to be further elucidated, possibly on the basis of the underlying molecular genetic mechanisms of HSP and PMA.Supported in part by a grant from the Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (quota 40% per ricerche di rilevante interesse nazionale)     

Dominant congenital benign spinal muscular atrophy

The affected members of the family described in this article exhibit congenital nonprogressive atrophy and weakness of lower limb muscles in association with contractures. Clinical and laboratory findings support a dominant lower motor neuron disorder. DNA analysis excluded linkage of the disease with SMA markers on the long arm of chromosome 5. The condition must be differentiated from congenital and infantile SMA, from “arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, distal type,” and from non hereditary types of congenital arthrogryposis. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sleep related breathing patterns in patients with spinal muscular atrophy

A clinical and polygraphic study of nocturnal sleep was performed in 8 (4 males, 4 females; age range 10–37 years) patients with spinal muscular atrophy, whose baseline respiratory function assessment during wakefulness showed restrictive ventilatory syndrome but blood-gas tension within normal limits. No patient reported any significant sleep complaint suggestive of sleepdisordered breathing. However, in 4 patients HbSaO2 desaturations below 90% (HbSaO2 nadir 68%) were detected during nocturnal polysomnography. The HbSaO2 desaturations occurred during brief central apneas or hypopneas, mainly during REM sleep, the apnoea hypopnea index being within normal limits in all cases. The data suggest that nocturnal polysomnography can detect otherwise clinically silent hypoxemia in SMA patients without any predisposing factor to sleep-disordered breathing other than their illness and still showing normal blood-gas tensions during wakefulness. Further studies are needed to determine the long-term evolution and the prognostic significance of nocturnal hypoxemia in these patients.

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Sommario Sono illustrati i risultati di una indagine clinica e polisonnografica sugli aspetti del sonno notturno e della respirazione durante sonno in 8 pazienti affetti da Amiotrofia Spinale (4 maschi, 4 femmine, di età compresa tra 10 e 37 anni) e che mostravano in veglia una sindrome restrittiva toracica ma valori emogasanalitici ancora nei limiti della norma. Nessun paziente riportava disturbi soggettivi del sonno tra quelli suggestivi di un sottostante disordine respiratorio sonno-relato. In 4 pazienti sono state documentate ricorrenti desaturazioni emoglobiniche di O2 sotto il 90% (valore minimo osservato 68%) nel corso della polisonnografia notturna, in relazione ad apnee o ipopnee non ostruttive, principalmente durante sonno REM. L'Indice di Apnea/Ipopnea è risultato essere nei limiti in tutti i pazienti. I dati suggeriscono che una iniziale tendenza alla desaturazione di O2 sonno relata può essere presente in pazienti con Amiotrofia Spinale senza apparenti disturbi clinici del sonno e che mostrano ancora un quadro di compenso emogasanalitico in veglia. L'evoluzione, la rilevanza clinica e dunque il significato prognostico di tali patterns di ipossiemia notturna andranno verificati in studi clinici e polisonnografici più estesi e con sviluppo longitudinale.

     

Cognitive functions in duchenne muscular dystrophy: A reappraisal and comparison with spinal muscular atrophy

In order to clarify cognitive functions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), we performed a new controlled neuropsychological study. IQ (WISC-R), verbal skills (fluency, confrontation naming and syntax comprehension) and memory abilities (BEM) were studied in two matched groups; 24 DMD children and 17 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) children aged 12–16 yr. A significant difference appeared between the DMD and SMA patients: only in the DMD group were there significant disabilities in certain specific functions and normal scores in others. Despite similar education, the DMD children more often had significantly greater learning disabilities. There were more DMD left-handers. Verbal IQ was significantly low whereas performance IQ was at a normal level. DMD children also performed poorly in reading tasks and in some memory functions such as story recall and verbal recognition. Specific cognitive disabilities in certain DMD children, not seen in SMA children, suggest a relationship with a DMD genetic disorder.     

Serum cholinesterase activity in infantile and juvenile spinal muscular atrophy

Serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pseudocholinesterase (ChE) activity in infantile and juvenile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was determined. The total AChE activity was either normal or decreased in the childhood SMA (Type 1), the other SMA groups and disease controls (ALS, X-linked SMA). In the majority of SMA Type 1 cases (6/7 tested) an absence of the asymmetric A12 form was found. This was accompanied by changes in the other asymmetric and globular forms. The latter was, however, not specific for SMA Type 1 cases. The ChE activity was increased in the majority of SMA cases as well as disease controls. The asymmetric A12 ChE form was increased in all SMA Type 3 cases, the values of this form in SMA Type 1 was variable. A change in the ChE globular forms in SMA Type 1 and SMA Type 2 was a frequent finding. It is suggested that the absence of the asymmetric A12 AChE form in SMA Type 1 arises because of muscle cell immaturity and undeveloped muscle-nerve interactions. The reason of ChE changes is obscure.     

进行性脊肌萎缩症129例临床分析

目的探讨进行性脊肌萎缩症(PSMA)的临床特点、诊断与鉴别诊断。方法回顾性分析129例PSMA患者的临床资料。结果本组患者均隐袭起病,逐渐加重,男性多见,发病年龄65.9%患者>50岁。首发症状以单侧上肢无力和肌萎缩为多见(65.9%),均表现为下运动神经元损害的症状和体征,51.9%患者出现延髓麻痹症状;肌电图检查均提示神经源性损害;易误诊为颈或腰椎病。结论本病是一组慢性进行性下运动神经元疾病,病变可累及延髓。诊断主要依据临床表现和肌电图。     

A follow-up study of 60 cases of chronic spinal muscular atrophy

60 cases of chronic spinal muscular atrophy (CSMA) were followed-up for a period varying from 5 to 40 years. The neuromuscular impairment was evaluated by Norris’ ALS score, both at the time of last examination and retrospectively at the time of diagnosis. Age at onset of symptoms was the most important factor in the progression of the neuromuscular damage. Monomelic or asymmetric location of symptoms at the time of diagnosis and duration of the disease were not significantly correlated to the worsening of ALS score.

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Sommario Sessanta casi di atrofia muscolare spinale cronica (CSMA) sono stati seguiti per un periodo compreso tra 5 e 40 anni. Per mezzo dell’ALS score di Norris è stato quantificato il danno neuromuscolare, sia al momento dell’ultima visita, sia, retrospettivamente, al momento della diagnosi. Il più importante fattore nella definizione della progressione del deficit è risultato essere l’età all’esordio dei sintomi. Non è stata evidenziata una relazione significativa tra una localizzazione monomelica o asimmetrica dei sintomi ed il peggioramento dell’ALS score.

     

儿童型脊肌萎缩症基因诊断的研究

目的 探讨儿童脊肌萎症（ＣＳＭＡ）的基因诊断方法。方法 ＰＣＲ－酶切分析法对７例ＣＳＭＡ患儿进行运动神经元生存（ＳＭＮ）基因的基因诊断分析,结果 ７例ＣＳＭＡ患儿ＳＭＮ基因７号８号一子ＰＣＲ产物经ＤｒａＩ、ＤｄｅＩ酶切后,６例仅剩下１６５ｂｐdisplay structure     

Non-familial, spinal segmental muscular atrophy in juvenile and young subjects

Thirty-two cases of juvenile and adult onset, non-familial, spinal, segmental muscular atrophy seen in two widely separated geographical regions of India were studied over the last 15 years. The characteristic features were: the non-familial, non-endemic nature, the strictly segmental distribution from the clinical and EMG point of view, which involved either distal or proximal segments of one upper or lower extremity, the absence of involvement of cranial nerves of the pyramidal, sensory and autonomic nervous system, the very high male predilection and the very insidious progression. No definitive etiological factors could be incriminated.     

腓骨肌萎缩症的病理和超微结构改变

目的　总结腓骨肌萎缩症 (HMSNⅠ型和Ⅱ型 )周围神经的病理改变及其特征。　　方法　采用单纤维分离、光镜及电镜观察 5例HMSNⅠ型、2例HMSNⅡ型腓肠神经的病理改变。　　结果　光镜下HMSNⅠ型患者大直径有髓纤维几乎完全消失 ,HMSNⅡ型部分保留 ,Ⅰ型各例均可见大量洋葱头样结构 ,Ⅱ型则无。电镜观察同样见到Ⅰ型患者有大量洋葱头样结构 ,并有较多膜性结构和雪旺氏细胞胞浆突起成分。Ⅱ型可见髓鞘坏变、塌陷 ,轴索内空泡变性。　　结论　HMSNⅠ型的基本病理改变为雪旺氏细胞病变 ,Ⅱ型则为轴索变性。     

Depletion and sizes of motor units in spinal muscular atrophy

Motor unit number estimation (MUNE) was applied to the biceps brachii muscles of 13 young patients (age 5--24 years) with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and the results compared with those of healthy control subjects matched for age and gender. In the SMA patients, all motor unit (MU) estimates fell below the control range, and there was good correspondence between the values for the two arms in the same subject. No correlation could be found between the MUNEs and the severity of the weakness. This unexpected result was attributed to the presence of small and normal-sized MUs in the muscles of patients, in addition to MUs that appeared to be considerably enlarged. The threefold mean increase in MU potential size was insufficient to compensate for the MU loss. In addition, the study confirmed that there are, on average, approximately 130 MUs in the healthy biceps brachii muscle.     

Old measures and new scores in spinal muscular atrophy patients

Introduction: A recent Rasch analysis performed on the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale—Expanded (HFMSE) in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) identified issues impacting scale validity, redundant items, and disordered thresholds on some items. Methods: We modified the HMFSE scoring based on the Rasch analysis and on expert consensus to establish whether the traditional scoring overestimated the number of patients with changes within 2 points from baseline. Data were collected retrospectively from multicenter data sets in 255 type 2 and 3 SMA patients. Results: The mean 12‐month changes using the new and the traditional scoring system did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The numbers of patients who improved or decreased by >2 points were also similar. Conclusions: The presence of outliers using the traditional scoring system was not due to overestimation of changes in activities that were tested bilaterally or to discrepancies in the scoring hierarchy of individual items. Muscle Nerve 52:435–437, 2015