Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy in Korea

Brain Dev. 2009 May;31(5):341-6. doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2008.06.009. Epub 2008 Aug 23.

Abstract

Congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of muscle disorders, presenting at birth or early infancy with hypotonia, muscle weakness, joint contractures, and dystrophic changes in the muscles. Merosin-deficient CMD (MDCMD) is rare in Asian populations, but more common in Caucasians, comprising about 50% of CMDs. We report, for the first time in Korea, eight patients with merosin-deficient CMD, confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of muscle or skin samples. We also describe their wide spectrum of clinical features and neuroimaging findings. Among 35 patients diagnosed as CMD, almost 23% of them were proved to have MDCMD with typical phenotypic presentation. We infer that prevalence of MDCMD in Korea may not be as low as expected. One of the patients was diagnosed by skin biopsy, which is good alternative for diagnosis of MDCMD.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Brain / abnormalities
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Laminin / deficiency*
  • Laminin / genetics*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Muscular Dystrophies / congenital*
  • Muscular Dystrophies / epidemiology
  • Muscular Dystrophies / pathology*
  • Nervous System Malformations / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Malformations / pathology*
  • Phenotype
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin / physiopathology
  • Skin Abnormalities / epidemiology
  • Skin Abnormalities / pathology*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Laminin