Genetics - Gait and Limp Flashcards
Criteria to be classified as a rare disease
Affect <1 in 2,000 people
What is an ataxia
Group of disorders that affect co-ordination, balance (gait) and speech
Genetic cause of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy
Alteration in DMD genes (frameshift mutation) that can be inherited in an x-linked recessive fashion
What does DMD encode for
A muscle protein, dystrophin
What happens in cells lacking dystrophin
They are mechanically fragile, and fail after a few years, hence progressive muscle weakness.
Epidemiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Most common form of muscular dystrophy in children
The incidence rate of DMD is 10.7 to 27.8 per 100,000 new-born males
Onset 3 to 5 years
Clinical features of DMD usually identified by parents
General motor delays
Gait problems, incl persistent toe-walking and flat-footedness
Delay in walking
Learning difficulties (low IQ)
Other clinical features of DMD
Speech problems Muscle wasting Calf muscle psuedohypertrophy Lordosis Contractures \+ve Gower's sign (not pathognomonic)
Why do we see calf muscle psuedohypertrophy in DMD
Due to muscle replacement with collagen and adipose tissue
Complications of DMD
Permanent and progressive disability
Decreased mobility
Respiratory or cardiac failure
Prognosis of DMD
Most can expect to survive until at least their early 20s, some even longer, and many maintain a good quality of life
What is Friedrichs ataxia
Rare, inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system
What is Friedrichs ataxia caused by
Defect in FXN gene
Expansion of GAA trinucleotide repeat in X25 gene, chromosome 9
No anticipation
Frataxin
Coded for FXN and X25
Controls important steps in mitochondrial iron metabolism and overall cell iron stability
Epidemiology of Friedrichs ataxia
Commonest familial ataxia
Incidence 1/50,000
Carrier Frequency 1/100
Autosomal recessive
Clinical features of Friedrichs ataxia
Areflexia in the lower limbs
Pyramidal weakness
Extensor plantar responses
Impaired joint position sense
Systemic features of Friedrichs ataxia
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (50%)
Scoliosis
Diabetes (10%)
Neurological variants
Prognosis of Friedrich’s ataxia
Progression to wheel-chair dependence
Death in mid thirties
ADCAs
Autosomal Dominant Cerebellar Ataxias
Causes of ADCA
Caused by mutation in DNMT1
Due to CAG repeat expansion and may show anticipation
DNMT1
DNA methyltransferase 1 is an enzyme involved in DNA methylation (adding cytosine to nucleotides)
Phenotype of ADCA
Variable: Cerebellar features* Spasticity Ophthalmoplegia Pigmentary maculopathy (SCA 7) Tremor (SCA15)
Frameshift mutation
Insertion or deletion of bases alters reading frame of gene —> alters codons of nucleotides translated into AA
Anticipation
Successive generations are affected more severely by trinucleotide repeat expansions, either the disease presents at an earlier age or the symptoms are worse
Symptoms and signs of muscle disorders
Weakness: proximal, symmetrical, persistent
Weakness > wasting
Normal sensation
Tendon reflexes: normal (or decreased only in areas of prominent weakness)
Additional features seen in some myopathies/muscular dystrophies
Myotonia
Rhabdomyolysis
Cardiomyopathy
Contractures
Investigations for muscle disorders
EMG
Serum CK – high
Other blood tests (routine biochem, endocrine tests etc)
Muscle biopsy
Testing for antibodies when investigating muscle disorders
Look for antibodies associated with:
Connective tissue disorders (ANA, RhF, anti-ds DNA, anti Ro/ La, anti Scl-70)
Polymyositis (anti Jo - 1), dermatomyositis (anti Mi-2)