Descripción clínica de pacientes pediátricos con enfermedades neuromusculares en una muestra de población chilena / Clinical description of pediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases in a Chilean population sample

OBJETIVO: Describir clínica y diagnóstico de 152 pacientes pediátricos asistentes al policlínico del Programa de Enfermedades Neuromusculares (ENM) en un centro terciario de la Región Metropolitana, Chile. METODOLOGÍA: Revisión de fichas programa EMN (2012-2016). RESULTADOS: 49% niñas, mediana de edad: 9 años (rango, 0­18), consultan por alteraciones de la marcha, debilidad e hipotonía. Segmentos más afectados son músculo y nervio periférico (92%). Diagnósticos más frecuentes son neuropatías adquiridas (26,1%), distrofias musculares (14,8%) y trastornos miotónicos (12,7%). Comorbilidades más frecuentes son patología traumatológica (23,2%) y discapacidad intelectual (13,4%). Los pacientes con patología hereditaria tienen mayor chance de requerir ventilación mecánica (OR 15,4; IC 95% 1,9­119,2) y presentar morbilidad traumatológica (OR 4,1; IC 1,03­16,4) que los con patología adquiridas. Confirmación genético-molecular en 38,4% de los pacientes con patología hereditaria. CONCLUSIONES: El conocimiento de características clínicas y posibilidades de estudio de las ENM puede mejorar las estrategias de atención.

INTRODUCTION: Neuromuscular diseases (NMS) represent a heterogeneous group of acquired and hereditary pathologies that affect the motor unit. There are few descriptive studies of patients with NMS in Chile and Latin America. OBJECTIVES: To clinically and epidemiologically characterize the pediatric population attending a polyclinic run using the NMS program of a hospital in the Metropolitan Region in Chile. Methodology: A review was made of database and clinical records of patients diagnosed with NMS between January 2012 and December 2016. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients, 51% of whom were male, with a median age 9 years (0-18 years), were included. The most frequent reasons for consultation were altered gait, decreased strength, and hypotonia. The most frequently affected segments were muscles and peripheral nerves (92% of the sample). The most frequent diagnoses were acquired neuropathies (26.1%), muscular dystrophies (14.8%), and myotonic disorders (12.7%). The most frequent comorbidities were traumatological pathologies (23.2%) and intellectual disabilities (13.4%). When comparing NMS with hereditary vs. acquired etiologies, those with hereditary etiologies had a higher risk of requiring mechanical ventilation (OR 15.4 [95%CI 1.9-119.2]) and having a traumatological disease (OR 4.1 [CI 1.03-16.4]) compared to those with acquired etiologies. For 38.4% of patients with hereditary etiologies, confirmation was obtained through molecular genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides information on the frequency of NMS and their main comorbidities in a Chilean pediatric sample. These results provide information regarding current possibilities for studies and could aid in planning care for these patients in our country. Keywords: Neuromuscular disease, Muscular disease, Neuropathies, Neurological Diagnostic.