title: Autosomal dominant congenital spinal muscular atrophy--a possible developmental deficiency of motor neurones?
abstract: We describe a kindred with an unusual congenital lower motor neuron disorder with significant but static muscle weakness predominantly affecting the lower limbs. The proband had talipes equinovarus and congenital hip contractures and did not walk until 19 months of age. Lower-extremity predominant, primarily proximal weakness was identified on assessment at three years. Over a 20 year follow-up there has been no clinical progression. The proband has a four-year-old daughter with very similar clinical findings. Electromyography and muscle biopsy suggest reduced numbers of giant normal duration motor units with little evidence of denervation or reinnervation. Dominant congenital spinal muscular atrophy predominantly affecting the lower limbs is rarely described. It is possible that the disorder is due to a congenital deficiency of motor neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology & Molecular Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia. stephenr@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reddel
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ouvrier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dierick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irobi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology