Clinical RNA sequencing confirms compound heterozygous intronic variants in RYR1 in a patient with congenital myopathy, respiratory failure, neonatal brain hemorrhage, and d-transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND: Defects in the RYR1 (OMIM#180901) gene lead to Ryanodine receptor type 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM); the most common subgroup of congenital myopathies. METHODS: Congenital myopathy presents a diagnostic challenge due to the need for multiple testing modalities to identify the many different genetic etiologies. In this case, the patient remained undiagnosed after whole-exome sequencing (WES), chromosomal microarray, methylation analysis, targeted deletion and duplication studies, and targeted repeat expansion studies. Clinical whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was then pursued as part of a research study to identify a diagnosis. RESULTS: WGS identified compound heterozygous RYR1 intronic variants, RNA sequencing confirmed both variants to be pathogenic causing RYR1-RM in a phenotype of severe congenital hypotonia with respiratory failure from birth, neonatal brain hemorrhage, and congenital heart disease involving transposition of the great arteries. CONCLUSION: While there is an ongoing debate about the clinical superiority of WGS versus WES for patients with a suspected genetic condition, this scenario highlights a weakness of WES as well as the added cost and delay in diagnosis timing with having WGS follow WES or even ending further genetic testing with a negative WES. While knowledge gaps still exist for many intronic variants, transcriptome analysis provides a way of validating the resulting dysfunction caused by these variants and thus allowing for appropriate pathogenicity classification. This is the second published case report of a patient with pathogenic intronic variants in RYR1-RM, with clinical RNA testing confirming variant pathogenicity and therefore the diagnosis suggesting that for some patients careful analysis of a patient's genome and transcriptome are required for a complete genetic evaluation. The diagnostic odyssey experienced by this patient highlights the importance of early, rapid WGS.

Diagnostic yield of muscle biopsy in infants: Retrospective analysis of clinical and histopathologic findings.

The aim was to define the clinical and histopathologic findings of infants who underwent muscle biopsy and identify the diagnostic yield of muscle biopsy in this cohort. Infants who underwent muscle biopsy from January 2010 to March 2017 at a tertiary hospital were included in the study (N = 87; 64 boys (73.6%), 23 girls (26.4%); age range 0 - 2 years; mean age 9.73 ± 7.04 months). Clinical and histopathologic data were obtained from medical records. Developmental delay (64.4%) and hypotonia (59.8%) were the most frequent clinical findings, and mitochondrial disease (61%) was the most frequent clinical diagnosis, followed by muscular dystrophy (15.9%) and congenital myopathy (11.5%). Creatine kinase level was normal in 65.9% and > 1,000 U/L in 17.1%. Specific pathologic findings were identified from 38 biopsies (43.7%). The most frequent pathologic findings were features compatible with mitochondrial/metabolic myopathy (14 patients, 16.1%) and muscular dystrophy (12 patients, 13.8%). Myopathic changes were present in 7 biopsy samples (8.0%) and neurogenic changes in 5 (5.7%). The clinical and pathologic diagnoses were compatible in 24 patients (63.2%). The diagnostic yield of muscle biopsy remains significant, especially in this age group. Mitochondrial disease is a major diagnostic challenge, and muscle biopsy helps to support the clinical diagnosis and guide further studies.

Brody myopathy demonstrates a pseudo-increment on repetitive nerve stimulation.

INTRODUCTION: Brody myopathy (BM) is a recessive condition caused by mutations in the ATP2A1 gene and usually induces impaired muscle relaxation during and after exercise. Diagnosis relies on needle electromyography showing electrical silence, muscle biopsy with decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase activity, and genetic analysis. Electrodiagnostic functional analyses are useful in the diagnosis of channelopathies, and thus may be impaired in BM. METHODS: We performed exercise tests and repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS; 10 supramaximal stimuli at 3 Hz) in 10 patients with BM. RESULTS: All participants showed incremental responses on RNS. Compound muscle action potential amplitude was increased and duration was decreased, especially in the ulnar nerve (+30.2 ± 7.1% and - 30.3 ± 2.8%, respectively; both P < .001). DISCUSSION: Easily accessible, this sign, referred to as the Arzel sign, could prove to be a very useful tool in BM diagnosis and in broadening its phenotype.

[When all roads lead to Africa ]. / Quand tous les chemins mènent à l'Afrique .

Congenital myopathies represent a quite heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders both at the clinical and genetic level. High-throughput sequencing (NGS), targeted or not, combined with muscle pathology, greatly facilitate their accurate characterization and occasionally lead to unexpected discoveries like in the case reported here in a Kuwaiti family facing a long diagnostic odyssey.

TITLE: Quand tous les chemins mènent à l'Afrique…. ABSTRACT: Les myopathies congénitales constituent un ensemble hétérogène de maladies neuromusculaires aussi bien sur le plan clinique que génétique. Le séquençage à haut débit, ciblé ou non, couplé à l'analyse de la biopsie musculaire, facilite grandement leur caractérisation précise et conduisent parfois à des découvertes inattendues comme dans le cas rapporté ci-dessous d'une famille koweitienne en errance diagnostique depuis de nombreuses années.

A Novel De Novo Heterozygous SCN4a Mutation Causing Congenital Myopathy, Myotonia and Multiple Congenital Anomalies.

BACKGROUND: The phenotypic spectrum of the skeletal muscle voltage-gated sodium channel gene (SCN4A) mutations has been expanding dramatically with advancements in genetic testing. Previously only known to cause autosomal dominant myotonia or periodic paralysis, now recessive mutations have been found causing congenital myopathies and congenital myasthenic syndromes. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old woman who was born with Arnold-Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, high-arched palate, bilateral hip dysplasia, and severe scoliosis presented for evaluation of episodic muscle stiffness and weakness. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed myopathy and widespread myotonia. Muscle histopathology showed marked fiber size variability, type I fiber predominance with minimal scattered necrosis and regeneration which was typical of a congenital myopathy with an additional finding of a lobulated structural pattern in type I fibers. Sequential individual gene testing revealed a novel de novo heterozygous c.2386 C > G, p.Leu796Val missense mutation in the SCN4A gene. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a dominant, heterozygous mutation in SCN4A causing a complex phenotype of congenital myopathy and myotonia with multiple congenital anomalies and unique muscle pathology findings. This case is another addition to the ever expanding phenotype of SCN4A mutations.

Two novel mutations in TTN of a patient with congenital myopathy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset myopathies show a wide spectrum of phenotypes and are composed of various types of inherited neuromuscular diseases, making it difficult to diagnose. TTN mutation-related myopathy is a known cause of early-onset myopathy. Since a next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled sequencing of the vast amount of DNA, TTN, which is the longest coding sequence of any human gene, mutations can now be revealed. We report a 10-year-old female with severe congenital muscular weakness and delayed motor development since birth. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing as well as electromyography and muscle biopsy were performed. RESULTS: To date, she is incapable of walking alone. Her younger sister had similar but more severe symptoms with respiratory failure. In electromyography, short-duration, small-amplitude motor unit action potential, and early recruitment patterns were observed in the involved proximal muscles, suggesting myopathy. Muscle histopathology showed a specific atrophy of increased fiber size variability, frequent nuclear internalization, as well as degeneration and regeneration of fibers with type I fiber predominance, consistent with the findings of a previous report about congenital titinopathy. A NGS study revealed two different possible pathogenic variants in TTN: (a) canonical splicing mutation in the intron 105 (c. 29963-1G>C) and (b) frameshift and truncating mutation in the exon 339 (c.92812dup/p.Arg30938LysfsTer15). All variants were confirmed by conventional Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSION: We propose that unbiased genomic sequencing can be helpful in screening patients with early-onset myopathy.

Congenital myopathy due to myosin heavy chain 2 mutation presenting as chronic aspiration pneumonia in infancy.

A 7-week-old infant presented with persistent noisy breathing and aspirations during swallowing. Neurological examination and brain MRI were normal. His 12-year-old brother underwent pneumonectomy at the age of 10 years due to recurrent aspirations leading to severe lung damage. The older brother developed subsequently ophthalmoplegia and nystagmus along with mild weakness of the neck flexors and proximal muscles. Exome analysis revealed homozygosity for a novel truncating mutation p.G800fs27* in the Myosin Heavy Chain 2 (MYH2) gene in both brothers, while parents and an unaffected sibling were heterozygous. A muscle biopsy from the older brother showed absence of type-2 muscle fibers and predominance of type-1 fibers. The aspirations causing pneumonia likely result from weakness of the laryngeal muscles, normally rich in type-2 fibers. The findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of MYH2 deficiency. MYH2 mutations should be included in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with recurrent aspirations.

[Overactive muscles: it can be more serious than common myalgia or cramp]. / Overactieve spieren: soms meer dan gewone spierpijn of kramp.

Positive muscle phenomena are due to muscle overactivity. Examples are cramp, myalgia, and stiffness. These manifestations have mostly acquired causes, e.g. side-effects of medication, metabolic disorders, vitamin deficiency, excessive caffeine intake or neurogenic disorders. We report on three patients with various positive muscle phenomena, to illustrate the clinical signs that indicate an underlying myopathy. Patient A, a 56-year-old man, was diagnosed with muscle cramp in the context of excessive coffee use and previous lumbosacral radiculopathy. Patient B, a 71-year-old man, was shown to have RYR1-related myopathy. Patient C, a 42-year-old man, suffered from Brody myopathy. We propose for clinicians to look out for a number of 'red flags' that can point to an underlying myopathy, and call for referral to neurology if indicated. Red flags include second wind phenomenon, familial occurrence of similar complaints, marked muscle stiffness, myotonia, muscle weakness, muscle hypertrophy, and myoglobinuria. Establishing a correct diagnosis is important for proper treatment. Certain myopathies call for cardiac or respiratory screening.

Approach to the diagnosis of congenital myopathies.

Over the past decade there have been major advances in defining the genetic basis of the majority of congenital myopathy subtypes. However the relationship between each congenital myopathy, defined on histological grounds, and the genetic cause is complex. Many of the congenital myopathies are due to mutations in more than one gene, and mutations in the same gene can cause different muscle pathologies. The International Standard of Care Committee for Congenital Myopathies performed a literature review and consulted a group of experts in the field to develop a summary of (1) the key features common to all forms of congenital myopathy and (2) the specific features that help to discriminate between the different genetic subtypes. The consensus statement was refined by two rounds of on-line survey, and a three-day workshop. This consensus statement provides guidelines to the physician assessing the infant or child with hypotonia and weakness. We summarise the clinical features that are most suggestive of a congenital myopathy, the major differential diagnoses and the features on clinical examination, investigations, muscle pathology and muscle imaging that are suggestive of a specific genetic diagnosis to assist in prioritisation of genetic testing of known genes. As next generation sequencing becomes increasingly used as a diagnostic tool in clinical practise, these guidelines will assist in determining which sequence variations are likely to be pathogenic.

New immunohistochemical method for improved myotonia and chloride channel mutation diagnostics.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to validate the immunohistochemical assay for the diagnosis of nondystrophic myotonia and to provide full clarification of clinical disease to patients in whom basic genetic testing has failed to do so. METHODS: An immunohistochemical assay of sarcolemmal chloride channel abundance using 2 different ClC1-specific antibodies. RESULTS: This method led to the identification of new mutations, to the reclassification of W118G in CLCN1 as a moderately pathogenic mutation, and to confirmation of recessive (Becker) myotonia congenita in cases when only one recessive CLCN1 mutation had been identified by genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a robust immunohistochemical assay that can detect loss of sarcolemmal ClC-1 protein on muscle sections. This in combination with gene sequencing is a powerful approach to achieving a final diagnosis of nondystrophic myotonia.

Miotonía de Thomsen y embarazo, manejo anestésico: reporte de un caso / Myotonia of Thomsen and pregnancy, anesthetic management: a case report

La miotonía de Thomsen es una enfermedad autosómica dominante que consiste en una marcada hipertrofia muscular a predominio en miembros superiores, que se encuentra asociada a una alteración en los canales de cloruro que intervienen en el potencial de acción del músculo esquelético, dicha enfermedad ha sido vinculada con complicaciones anestésicas como episodios de hipertermia maligna. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 20 años, IIG, IC, con embarazo de 38 semanas, y diagnóstico de miopatía de Thomsen para resolución obstétrica electiva por vía alta. Se discuten los aspectos clínicos de la enfermedad y su manejo anestésico

Thomsen myotonia is a autosomal dominant disease which consists in marked muscular hypertrophy with dominance in the upper limbs associated with disturbance in the chloride channels involved in the skeletal muscle action potential. This disease has been linked with anesthetic complications such as malignant hyperthermia episodes. Is a patient of 20 years old, IIG, IC, with 38 weeks pregnancy, and diagnosis of myopathy of Thomsen for elective obstetrical resolution by cesarean section. The clinical aspects of the disease and its anaesthetic management are discussed

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de las miotonías congénitas menos frecuentes / Diagnosis and treatment of less common myotonia congenita

Las miotonías no-distróficas son un grupo importante de canalopatías del músculo esquelético caracterizadas por excitabilidad alterada de la membrana celular. Hoy día se reconocen muchos fenotipos clínicos distintos con un rango de severidad que oscila desde la miotonía neonatal severa con compromiso respiratorio hasta el ataque miotónico ligero que producen las Parálisis Periódicas.Objetivo: analizar y discutir la fisiopatología, cuadro clínico y criterios diagnósticos de las miotonías no distróficas menos frecuentes de la práctica clínica.Desarrollo: las mutaciones genéticas específicas en los canales de voltaje del cloruro y de sodio son la causa en la mayoría de los pacientes. Estudios recientes han permitido las correlaciones más precisas entre el genotipo, patrón electrofisiológico y fenotipo clínico. Se comenta además el criterio diagnóstico de cada canalopatía en particular.Conclusiones: a pesar de los adelantos significativos en la clínica, genética molecular y fisiopatología de estos desórdenes existen problemas importantes no resueltos, tales como la utilidad de los estudios neurofisiológicos para identificar el posible genotipo, la ausencia de una historia natural de las canalopatías actualmente, aun cuando está disponible el estudio de genética molecular, la asociación de las miotonías congénitas con los cambios miopáticos, la relación de las miopatías congénitas con las miotonías congénitas y por último la posibilidad de un tratamiento más especifico y adecuado en ausencia de ensayos clínicos farmacológicos aleatorizados que permitan en el futuro tratar y prevenir el daño de los canales iónicos

Myotonia non-dystrophica is an important group of skeletal muscle channelopathies characterized by altered excitability of cell membrane. Nowadays are recognized many different clinical phenotypes with a severity level, ranging from severe neonatal myotonia with respiratory compromise to mild myotonic attack produced by periodical paralysis. Objective: to analyze and discuss the physiopathology, clinical picture and diagnostic criteria of myotonia non-dystrophica less frequent in clinical practice.Development: the specific genetic mutations in the chloride and sodium voltage channels are the cause in the majority of patients. Recent studies have allowed more precise correlations between genotype, electrophysiologic pattern and clinical phenotype. In addition each channelopathy diagnosis criterion is discussed.Conclusions: despite significant advances in the clinic, molecular genetics and physiopathology of these disorders, there are important unresolved issues, such as the usefulness of neurophysiologic studies to identify possible genotype, the absence of a natural history on channelopathy currently, even when is available the study of molecular genetics, the association of myotonia congenita with myopathic changes, the relationship of myotonia congenita with congenital myopathies and finally the possibility of a more specific and appropriate treatment in the absence of randomized pharmacologic clinical trials to enable in the future treating and preventing ionic channels damage

A Becker myotonia patient with compound heterozygosity for CLCN1 mutations and Prinzmetal angina pectoris.

Becker myotonia is a recessive muscle disease with prevalence of > 1:50,000. It is caused by markedly reduced function of the chloride channel encoded by CLCN1. We describe a Polish patient with severe myotonia, transient weakness, and muscle cramps who only responds to lidocaine. In addition, the patient has Prinzmetal angina pectoris and multiple lipomatosis. He is compound heterozygeous for a novel p.W303X and a frequent p.R894X CLCN1 mutation. CLCN1 exon number variation was excluded by MLPA. His son with latent myotonia was heterozygeous for p.R894X. We discuss the potential relations of the three rare diseases and the inheritance of p.R894X.

Clinical and molecular diagnosis of a Costa Rican family with autosomal recessive myotonia congenita (Becker disease) carrying a new mutation in the CLCN1 gene

Myotonia congenita is a muscular disease characterized by myotonia, hypertrophy, and stiffness. It is inherited as either autosomal dominant or recessive known as Thomsen and Becker diseases, respectively. Here we confirm the clinical diagnosis of a family diagnosed with a myotonic condition many years ago and report a new mutation in the CLCN1 gene. The clinical diagnosis was established using ocular, cardiac, neurological and electrophysiological tests and the molecular diagnosis was done by PCR, SSCP and sequencing of the CLCN1 gene. The proband and the other affected individuals exhibited proximal and distal muscle weakness but no hypertrophy or muscular pain was found. The myotatic reflexes were lessened and sensibility was normal. Electrical and clinical myotonia was found only in the sufferers. Slit lamp and electrocardiogram tests were normal. Two affected probands presented diminution of the sensitive conduction velocities and prolonged sensory distal latencies. The clinical spectrum for this family is in agreement with a clinical diagnosis of Becker myotonia. This was confirmed by molecular diagnosis where a new disease-causing mutation (Q412P) was found in the family and absent in 200 unaffected chromosomes. No latent myotonia was found in this family; therefore the ability to cause this subclinical sign might be intrinsic to each mutation. Implications of the structure-function-genotype relationship for this and other mutations are discussed. Adequate clinical diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder would allow focusing the molecular studies toward the confirmation of the initial diagnosis, leading to a proper clinical management, genetic counseling and improving in the quality of life of the patients and relatives.

La miotonía congénita es una enfermedad muscular caracterizada por miotonía, hipertrofia y rigidez. Se presenta con dos patrones de herencia, autosómica dominante en cuyo caso recibe el nombre de miotonía de Thomsen, o autosómica recesiva conocida como miotonía de Becker. En este trabajo se confirmó el diagnóstico clínico presuntivo hecho hace algunos años en una familia con una condición miotónica y se reporta una nueva mutación en el gen CLCN1. El diagnóstico clínico se estableció después de estudios oculares, cardíacos, neurológicos y electrofisiológicos. El diagnóstico molecular fue hecho mediante la PCR, SSCP y secuenciación del gen CLCN1. El caso índice y los otros individuos afectados exhibieron debilidad muscular proximal y distal, pero no se encontró hipertrofia ni dolor muscular. Los reflejos miotáticos estuvieron disminuidos y la sensibilidad fue normal. Se encontró miotonía clínica y eléctrica solo en los individuos afectados. Las pruebas de lámpara de hendidura y electrocardiograma resultaron normales. Dos individuos afectados presentaron disminución de las velocidades de conducción sensitiva y latencias distales sensoriales prolongadas. El cuadro clínico concuerda con la miotonía de Becker, lo cual se confirmó con el hallazgo de una mutación responsable de la enfermedad en el gen CLCN1 (Q412P), la cual se encontró en la familia y estuvo ausente en 200 cromosomas provenientes de la población general. No se encontró miotonía latente, por lo que probablemente la habilidad de causar este signo subclínico es intrínsica de cada mutación. Afinar el diagnóstico clínico diferencial de las enfermedades neuromusculares permitiría enfocar los estudios moleculares hacia la confirmación del diagnóstico inicial en forma eficiente, lo cual permitiría un manejo clínico y asesoramiento genético más adecuados y una mejora en la calidad de vida de los pacientes y sus familias.

Severe neonatal non-dystrophic myotonia secondary to a novel mutation of the voltage-gated sodium channel (SCN4A) gene.

We report on a patient with a severe, rare neonatal form of non-dystrophic myotonia. The patient presented with facial dysmorphism, muscle hypertrophy, severe constipation, psychomotor delay, and frequent cold-induced episodes of myotonia and muscle weakness leading to severe hypoxia and loss of consciousness. Muscle biopsy was non-specific and electromyography revealed intense generalized myotonia. The myotonic episodes improved after introducing oral mexiletine and maintaining room temperature at 28 degrees C. The patient died at 20 months of age following a bronchopulmonary infection. A previously undescribed de novo heterozygous c.3891C > A change, which predicts p.N1297K in the SCN4A gene. Mutations within the voltage-gated sodium channel alpha-subunit gene (SCN4A) have been described in association with several phenotypes including paramyotonia congenita, hyperkalemic or hypokalemic periodic paralysis, and potassium-aggravated myotonias. The cold-sensitive episodes of stiffness followed by weakness suggested the diagnosis of channelopathy in our patient. However, her neonatal onset, the triggering of severe episodes by exposure to modest decreases in temperature, involvement of respiratory muscles with prolonged apnea, early-onset muscle hypertrophy, psychomotor retardation, and fatal outcome are evocative of a distinct clinical subtype. Our observation expands the phenotypic spectrum of sodium channelopathies.

X-linked myotubular myopathy with a novel MTM1 mutation in a Taiwanese child.

We report a male, preterm newborn infant with X-linked myotubular myopathy, the most severe type of the disease. He presented at birth with generalized hypotonia, difficulty in swallowing, and respiratory distress with frequent episodes of atelectasis. The infant had a long thin face, generalized hypotonia, and arachnodactyly. Diagnosis was based on fetal history, muscle histopathology, electron microscopy and a genetic study. A base pair change was detected in exon 11 of the MTM1 gene: c.1160C>A, which caused an amino acid change, p.S387Y. The father's gene was normal but the mother had the same mutation as her son and was thus a carrier.