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Query: UMLS:C0026850 (muscular dystrophy)
 5,870 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A novel form of congenital muscular dystrophy in four unrelated patients is proposed. Congenital hypotonia, markedly increased CK, calf pseudohypertrophy and proximal weakness were common early findings. Two cases were severely affected since infancy and never walked. The phenotypical homogeneity was not very evident until advanced stages of the disease. All the patients showed catastrophic progression of the weakness, severe restrictive respiratory insufficiency, macroglossia, peculiar extreme amyotrophy of hands and feet, and a round and 'puffy' face. All patients became tetraplegic and required mechanical ventilation. Two cases had signs of mild cardiac involvement. The only non-tracheotomised patient died of respiratory complications. No mental retardation or specific brain abnormalities were observed. All patients showed secondary deficit of laminin 2 and up-regulation of laminin 5 in muscle. Expression of -dystroglycan was severely reduced in two available muscle samples. The known loci for congenital muscular dystrophies were excluded in the only consanguineous case by linkage analysis. Clinical, immunohistochemical and genetic findings strongly suggest a distinct entity.
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PMID:Severe progressive form of congenital muscular dystrophy with calf pseudohypertrophy, macroglossia and respiratory insufficiency. 1203 20

Thirty five floppy children seen during two year period, were subjected to clinical examination, electroneuromyography and muscle biopsy. The muscle biopsy was sent for routine histology, histochemistry and electron microscopy. Using muscle pathology as the 'gold standard' for diagnosis, the aetiological entities were spinal muscular atrophy (16), congenital muscular dystrophy (6), mitochondrial myopathy (3), congenital fibre type disproportion (2), acid mutase deficiency (1) and benign congenital hypotonia (6). Mental subnormality, seizures, ptosis and ophthalmoplegia suggested mitochondrial disease (n=2). Macroglossia, hepatomegaly and cardiomegaly along with the dive bomber effect on electromyography were useful clues to the diagnosis of Pompe's disease (n=1). Positive decremental test established the diagnosis of congenital myasthenia in one patient. Contrary to most previously published reports, infantile onset of spinal muscular atrophy did not always spell a poor prognosis on follow up. 'Floppy infant syndrome' has varied etiology. Comprehensive evaluation including clinical, electrophysiological and detailed histological examination is necessary for proper diagnosis and prognosis of this heterogenous entity.
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PMID:Neuromuscular disorders in infancy and childhood. 2951 74