Dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction defects in a patient with partial merosin deficiency due to mutations in the laminin-α2-chain gene: a chance association or a novel phenotype?

ABSTRACT

Patients with a partial reduction of merosin due to mutations in the laminin-α2 chain gene usually present with a mild form of congenital muscular dystrophy or a limb-girdle-like muscular dystrophy. To our knowledge, cardiac impairment has never been reported in such patients. A longitudinal study of a patient with partial laminin-α2 deficiency secondary to mutations in the LAMA2 gene revealed dilated cardiomyopathy with ventricular arrhythmias. Is this a chance association or a novel phenotype?