title: Clinical correlates of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in patients with pes cavus deformities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given its association with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), pes cavus is a common reason for referral to a neurologist. We investigated clinical features that may predict CMT in children with pes cavus.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study we retrospectively reviewed pes cavus patients referred to Boston Children's Hospital in the past 20 years. Patients were categorized as idiopathic or CMT, based on EMG/genetic testing, and their clinical features were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 70 patients studied, 33 had idiopathic pes cavus, and 37 had genetically confirmed CMT. Symptoms of weakness, unsteady gait, family history of pes cavus and CMT, and signs of sensory deficits, distal atrophy and weakness, absent ankle jerks, and gait abnormalities were associated with CMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children with pes cavus, certain clinical features can predict CMT and assist in selection of patients for further, potentially uncomfortable (EMG) and expensive (genetic) confirmatory investigations.
authors: Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Woodruff Memorial Research Building, 101 Woodruff Circle, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. ioannis.karakis@emory.edu
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Karakis
authors: Matt
authors: M
authors: Gregas
authors: Basil T
authors: BT
authors: Darras
authors: Peter B
authors: PB
authors: Kang
authors: H Royden
authors: HR
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies