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Familial bulbo-spinal muscular atrophy associated with testicular atrophy and sensory neuropathy (Kennedy-Alter-Sung syndrome). Autopsy case report of two brothers.

Autopsy cases of two brothers with bulbo-spinal muscular atrophy associated with gynecomastia, testicular atrophy and sensory neuropathy are reported. The disease started with finger tremor, proximal muscle weakness and facial muscle twitching at the second and fourth decades, accompanied by bulbar signs and glove-stocking type sensory disturbance. Systemic neurogenic patterns and diminished sensory nerve action potential amplitudes were recorded by electrophysiological studies. A marked loss of myelinated fibers was noticed upon sural nerve biopsy. Gonadal hormone values were normal, except for elevated urinary estrogen. Postmortem examinations revealed a remarkable degeneration of the facial and hypoglossal nuclei, and the spinal cord motoneurons. The skeletal muscles and the tongue showed neurogenic muscular atrophy with fatty replacement. Testicular atrophy was prominent showing hyalinized seminiferous tubuli with nodular and diffuse Leydig cell hyperplasia, containing estrogen immunoreactive substance. These clinical and histological features seemed to be highly compatible with those of Kennedy-Alter-Sung type bulbo-spinal muscular atrophy. The involvement of sensory peripheral nerves, however, was a distinct feature of this family.

Aged↗

Sensory nerve conduction in the spinal muscular atrophies.

Sensory conduction velocities were determined in the sural or median nerve in 16 patients with spinal muscular atrophy of the severe (Werdnig-Hoffmann), intermediate, or mild (Kugelberg-Welander) forms. In all cases there were normal sensory conduction velocities in one of the nerves tested, although sural nerve responses were not obtained in the four youngest patients.

Adolescent↗

Nonprogressive juvenile-onset spinal muscular atrophy: A clinico-radiological and CAG repeat study of androgen receptor gene.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence of nonprogressive juvenile-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) predominantly in males suggests a possibility of X-linked disorder but there is no such report addressing this problem. AIMS: To evaluate CAG repeat expansion of androgen receptor (AR) gene in patients with nonprogressive juvenile-onset SMA. SETTING: Tertiary medical teaching institute. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of nonprogressive juvenile-onset SMA were included. Detailed clinical evaluation and pedigree charting were done in all. Nerve conduction study, electromyography and cervical spinal MRI were carried out. From peripheral venous blood, DNA was separated and AR gene CAG repeat exon polymorphism was assayed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in conjugation with genotyping and Gene scan soft ware. Number of CAG repeats was compared with normal controls. RESULTS: 25 patients with nonprogressive juvenile-onset SMA from 24 families were included and their mean age was 22.2 years. Age at the time of disease onset ranged between 15 and 30 years with a mean duration of illness 2.6 years. None of the patients had testicular atrophy or gynecomastia. C7-T1 myotomal wasting and weakness although was unilateral to begin with but became bilateral in 16 and 4 more patients had evidences of subclinical involvement of the other side as revealed by EMG. Spinal MRI revealed cord atrophy at C6-8 vertebral level in 16 patients. CAG repeat study of AR gene was carried out in 16 patients. The number of CAG repeats in patients ranged between 15 and 39 (median 21) which were within the normal range. CONCLUSION: Abnormal CAG repeat expansion of AR gene is not found in patients with nonprogressive juvenile-onset SMA.

Adolescent↗

Autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) segregate within a single large kindred and map to a refined region on chromosome 7p15.

Two separate disorders, autosomal dominant distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V) characterized by marked bilateral weakness in the hands and atrophy of thenar eminence and the first interosseous muscle, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) characterized by sensory deficits in addition to the upper limb weakness and wasting, have been independently linked to chromosome 7p. We identified a multigenerational Mongolian kindred with 17 members affected with either dSMA-V or CMT2D and mapped both syndromes to the same region on chromosome 7p15. A maximum two-point lod score of 4.74 at recombination fraction zero was obtained with marker D7S474. Tight linkage without recombination was also detected with markers D7S526 and D7S632. A multipoint lod score of 6.07 suggested that the gene is located between markers D7S526 and D7S474. A single conserved haplotype was associated with dSMA-V and CMT2D. Based on informative recombination events, the disease locus was placed between markers D7S516 and D7S1514 within the 7p15 band. Data obtained from this study suggest that a single gene is responsible for both syndromes, dSMA-V and CMT2D, and extend our knowledge of the candidate region.

Adult↗

Hereditary canine spinal muscular atrophy: an animal model of motor neuron disease.

Motor neuron diseases selectively produce degeneration and death of motor neurons; the pathogenesis of these disorders and the specificity for this population of neurons are unknown. Hereditary Canine Spinal Muscular Atrophy produces a lower motor neuron disease which is clinically and pathologically similar to human motor neuron disease: motor neurons dysfunction and degenerate. The canine model provides an opportunity to investigate early stages of disease when there are viable motor neurons still present and might be responsive to a variety of therapeutic interventions. The canine disease, like the human disease, is inherited as an autosomal dominant. The extensive canine pedigree of more than 200 characterized individuals permits genetic analysis using syntenic linkage techniques which may identify a marker for the canine trait and provide insights into homologous regions for study in human kindreds.

Animals↗

Expressed cadherin pseudogenes are localized to the critical region of the spinal muscular atrophy gene.

Low-copy repeats have been associated with genomic rearrangements and have been implicated in the generation of mutations in several diseases. Here we characterize a subset of low-copy repeats in the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) region in human chromosome 5q13. We show that this repeated sequence, named c41-cad, is a highly expressed pseudogene derived from an intact neuronal cadherin gene, Br-cadherin, situated on 5p13-14. Br-cadherin is expressed specifically in the brain, whereas the c41-cad transcripts are 10-15 times more abundant and are present in all tissues examined. We speculate that the c41-cad repeats, separately or in concert with other repeats in the SMA region, are involved in the pathogenesis of SMA by promoting rearrangements and deletions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Global management of infantile spinal muscular atrophy. Practical guide for medical staff].

After a brief recall of clinical features, an outline of care for children with spinal muscular atrophy or severe neuromyopathies is proposed. With regard to respiration, the aim is to allow pulmonary growth, mainly through preventive ventilation. From the orthopaedic point of view, the main goal is to prevent contractures and kyphoscoliosis. Moreover, several methods of technical assistance can be proposed in order to make everyday life easier and allow familial and social insertion.

Child↗

Cardiac involvement in Werdnig-Hoffmann's spinal muscular atrophy.

Despite the increasing interest in cardiac involvement (CI) of neuromuscular disorders, only few data are available on CI in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We tried to determine the cardiac manifestations of SMA, their incidence rates and the necessity of cardiac therapy in patients with SMA and CI. Eight patients with SMA, aged 10-79 years, underwent clinical cardiologic examination, ECG, echocardiography and ambulatory ECG. The most frequent findings were angina pectoris, palpitations, exertional dyspnea, ST abnormalities, couplets, thickened myocardium and diastolic dysfunction. In conclusion, cardiac manifestations of SMA mainly comprise ECG abnormalities and thickened myocardium. CI in SMA frequently necessitates cardiac therapy.

Adolescent↗

Survival motor neuron gene deletion in the arthrogryposis multiplex congenita-spinal muscular atrophy association.

The survival motor neuron (SMN) gene was lacking in 6/12 patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) associated with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Neither point mutation in the SMN gene nor evidence for linkage to chromosome 5q13 were found in the other patients. Hitherto, arthrogryposis was regarded as an exclusion criterion in SMA. Our data strongly suggest that AMC of neurogenic origin is genetically heterogeneous, with a subgroup being allelic to SMA. Absence or interruption of the SMN gene in the AMC-SMA association will make the diagnosis easier and genetic counselling will now become feasible.

Arthrogryposis↗

Successful pregnancies in the presence of spinal muscular atrophy: two case reports.

We report two cases of successful pregnancy in women with chronic, infantile onset, or type II spinal muscular atrophy, both of whom delivered healthy, unaffected babies. The patients required concurrent management by a physiatrist, pulmonologist, and perinatologist throughout the pregnancy. Complications included recurrent urinary tract infections, dyspnea and worsening of pulmonary function, wheelchair seating and positioning problems, and musculoskeletal and low back pain. These problems resolved postpartum. One woman had vaginal delivery, the other had caesarean section, both of which were well-tolerated. Because of severe musculoskeletal deformity, pelvic assessment is necessary to determine the mode of delivery. The uterus has normal contractility and effective labor patterns can be established. Spinal/epidural anesthesia may be contraindicated because of spine deformity. The pregnancies had no deleterious effect on the progression of the disease in our patients, both of whom reported a positive experience with great personal fulfillment.

Adult↗

Chronic proximal spinal muscular atrophy of childhood and adolescence: sex influence.

Segregation analysis was performed on 354 cases of chronic proximal spinal muscular atrophy of childhood and adolescence (CPSMA) in the total series and in a number of subgroups formed according to the age at onset and sex. The analysis provided evidence of sex influence in the series studied, particularly in a subgroup of the milder form of the disease with onset between the 37th month and 18th year of life. In the latter subgroup, females were affected much less frequently. This was particularly striking after age at onset of 8 years, and only exceptionally were females affected after the age of 13 years. These facts point to incomplete penetrance of the gene.

Adolescent↗

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction in adult spinal muscular atrophy.

A 42-year-old woman with 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.

Adult↗

Molecular diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy.

The frequency of deletions within the survival motor neurone (SMN) and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) genes in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and the impact of this on the diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of SMA, were investigated by molecular analysis of stored DNA and retrospective review of case notes. In type I SMA, 16 of 17 cases were homozygously deleted for exons 7 and 8 of SMN, 14 of 17 were homozygously deleted for exon 5 of NAIP, and 13 of 17 were deleted for both. In types II and III SMA, seven of nine cases were deleted for exons 7 and 8 of SMN. Deletions of SMN and NAIP occurred in four of nine cases. With one exception, the deletion genotypes of probands, affected siblings, and terminated fetuses were identical. Molecular studies are replacing conventional investigations for SMA and have a high uptake prenatally.

Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein↗

Allelic association and deletions in autosomal recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy: association of marker genotype with disease severity and candidate cDNAs.

The candidate region for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been defined as a 750 kb interval on 5q13. In this study, we performed allelic association studies in 154 German SMA families with the multicopy markers Ag1-CA (D5S1556); C212 (D5F149S1/S2) and correlated genotype data with deletion of candidate genes. Both multicopy markers recognize 0-3 alleles pro chromosome. Deletions were detected for all copies of the markers Ag1-CA (C272) and C212 in 13 of 88 (15%) type I SMA patients and three of 48 (6%) type II patients. In all informative cases, the deletion was inherited from one parent. In two further cases (one type I and one type III SMA), de novo deletions of only one copy of Ag1-CA and C212 were found. In both cases the patients were homozygously deleted for the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene (exons 7 and 8) but only the type I SMA patient was deleted for the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) gene (exons 5 and 6). A third case (type II SMA) showed de novo deletion of SMN, but not of Ag1-CA, C212 and NAIP. Specific alleles of Ag1-CA and C212 showed significant association with SMA, particularly in type I SMA. When the number of marker copies defines genotypes, 1,1 (one allele on each chromosome) is found to be increased in type I SMA (50%) and 1,2 (one allele on one chromosome and two alleles on the other one) in type II SMA (60%). The 2,2 genotype (two alleles on each chromosome) was found in 4% of type I and II patients. By comparison, pooled normal genotype frequencies were 20, 44 and 36%, respectively. These results suggest a strong correlation between genotype and severity of disease. Based on these data we propose a model which indicates that type I SMA patients are composed of two severe alleles, type II of a mild and a severe, and type III of two mild alleles. Correlation of Ag1-CA genotype with deletion of the XS2G3/NAIP genes indicates that most patients with a deletion have a 1,1 genotype. Owing to the physical proximity of these markers, we propose that a large deletion occurs on type I SMA chromosomes that removes DNA between C212 and XS2G3/NAIP and that type II SMA results from compound heterozygosity for mild (small deletion) and severe mutations.

Alleles↗

Spinal muscular atrophy type 1: management and outcomes.

Our objectives were to describe survival, hospitalization, speech, and outcomes related to respirator needs for spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1) patients, using noninvasive or tracheostomy ventilation. From 65 SMA patients referred to our clinic since 1996, we chose 56 SMA1 patients who developed respiratory failure before age 2 years. Patients either had tracheostomy tubes (group A), or used noninvasive ventilation and assisted coughing; a previously reported extubation protocol (group B) was used as needed. Sixteen patients underwent tracheostomy at 10.8 +/- 5.0 months of age, 33 were in group B, and 7 others died without life-support interventions. Compared to group B, group A patients had fewer hospitalizations until age 3 years, but more after age 5, and 15 of 16 lost all spontaneous breathing tolerance posttracheostomy and could not speak. One group A patient died at 16 months of age, and the others were 73.8 +/- 57 months of age (the oldest was 19 years old). Two group B patients died at 6 and 13 months, respectively, whereas the other 31 were 41.8 +/- 26.0 months (and up to 8.3 years) old. Three of 31 in group B required high-span positive inspiratory pressure plus positive end-expiratory pressure (PIP + PEEP) continuously with minimal tolerance for breathing on their own, and 4 could not communicate verbally.In conclusion, SMA type 1 children can survive beyond 2 years of age when offered tracheostomy or noninvasive respiratory support. The latter is associated with fewer hospitalizations after age 5 years, freedom from daytime ventilator use, and the ability to speak.

Adolescent↗

Is Kugelberg-Welander spinal muscular atrophy a fetal defect?

Twelve children who had developed Kugelberg-Welander (K-W) spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) before the age of six years were investigated. Electrophysiological, histochemical, ultrastructural, and biochemical studies demonstrated features of immature muscle fibers suggesting a fetal defect as in the Werdnig-Hoffmann (W-H) form of SMA. Comparison with known patterns of human myogenesis and of experimental denervation of immature muscle suggested that the defect in K-W SMA probably takes place in fetal life at a stage later than in W-H SMA. In contrast to W-H SMA, a considerable percentage of mature fibers of normal structure and diameter were present. The immature fibers impair the normal development of muscle cells by preventing the increase in number of mature fibers and causing an overloading of the normal fibers with consequent hypertrophy and eventually destructive changes. This is the pattern in K-W disease that distinguishes the juvenile form of SMA from W-H disease.

Adolescent↗

Carrier incidence for spinal muscular atrophy in southern Chinese.

A real time quantitative PCR (QPCR) method using TaqMan technology was used to assess the copy number of the two survival motor neuron genes (SMN1 and SMN2) on chromosome 5q13. This allows the accurate determination of carriers for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), with one copy of SMN1. Analysis of 569 normal southern Chinese individuals revealed a carrier incidence of 1.6%, similar to that found in the western society. Study of 42 obligatory carriers showed a (2 + 0) genotype in two (4.8 %). In 27 SMA patients with homozygous deletion of the SMN1 gene, the number of SMN2 gene correlated with disease phenotype, with 68% of type II and III patients carrying three or more SMN2 genes, whilst the incidence of three or more SMN2 genes in the normal population was 1.57%.

Asian People↗