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Nemaline myopathy 6(NEM6)

MedGen UID:
373095
Concept ID:
C1836472
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: NEM6; Nemaline myopathy 6, autosomal dominant
 
Gene (location): KBTBD13 (15q22.31)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0012237
OMIM®: 609273

Definition

Nemaline myopathy-6 is an autosomal dominant skeletal muscle disorder characterized by childhood onset of slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, and slow movements with stiff muscles. Patients are unable to run or correct themselves from falling over. Histopathologic changes seen on skeletal muscle biopsy include nemaline rods, cores devoid of oxidative enzyme activity, and predominance of hypertrophic type 1 fibers. There is no cardiac or respiratory involvement (summary by Sambuughin et al., 2010). [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
Nemaline myopathy is a disorder that primarily affects skeletal muscles, which are muscles that the body uses for movement. People with nemaline myopathy have muscle weakness (myopathy) throughout the body, but it is typically most severe in the muscles of the face; neck; trunk; and other muscles close to the center of the body (proximal muscles), such as those of the upper arms and legs. This weakness can worsen over time. Affected individuals may have feeding and swallowing difficulties, foot deformities, abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and joint deformities (contractures). Most people with nemaline myopathy are able to walk, although some affected children may begin walking later than usual. As the condition progresses, some people may require wheelchair assistance. In severe cases, the muscles used for breathing are affected and life-threatening breathing difficulties can occur.

Nemaline myopathy is divided into six types. In order of decreasing severity, the types are: severe congenital, Amish, intermediate congenital, typical congenital, childhood-onset, and adult-onset. The types are distinguished by the age when symptoms first appear and the severity of symptoms; however, there is overlap among the various types. The severe congenital type is the most life-threatening. Most individuals with this type do not survive past early childhood due to respiratory failure. The Amish type solely affects the Old Order Amish population of Pennsylvania and is typically fatal in early childhood. The most common type of nemaline myopathy is the typical congenital type, which is characterized by muscle weakness and feeding problems beginning in infancy. Most of these individuals do not have severe breathing problems and can walk unassisted. People with the childhood-onset type usually develop muscle weakness in adolescence. The adult-onset type is the mildest of all the various types. People with this type usually develop muscle weakness between ages 20 and 50.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/nemaline-myopathy

Clinical features

From HPO
Exercise intolerance
MedGen UID:
603270
Concept ID:
C0424551
Finding
A functional motor deficit where individuals whose responses to the challenges of exercise fail to achieve levels considered normal for their age and gender.
Limb muscle weakness
MedGen UID:
107956
Concept ID:
C0587246
Finding
Reduced strength and weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs.
Gait disturbance
MedGen UID:
107895
Concept ID:
C0575081
Finding
The term gait disturbance can refer to any disruption of the ability to walk.
Myopathy
MedGen UID:
10135
Concept ID:
C0026848
Disease or Syndrome
A disorder of muscle unrelated to impairment of innervation or neuromuscular junction.
Muscle stiffness
MedGen UID:
113151
Concept ID:
C0221170
Sign or Symptom
A condition in which muscles cannot be moved quickly without accompanying pain or spasm.
Difficulty climbing stairs
MedGen UID:
68676
Concept ID:
C0239067
Finding
Reduced ability to climb stairs.
Facial palsy
MedGen UID:
87660
Concept ID:
C0376175
Disease or Syndrome
Facial nerve palsy is a dysfunction of cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) that results in inability to control facial muscles on the affected side with weakness of the muscles of facial expression and eye closure. This can either be present in unilateral or bilateral form.
Muscular atrophy
MedGen UID:
892680
Concept ID:
C0541794
Pathologic Function
The presence of skeletal muscular atrophy (which is also known as amyotrophy).
Difficulty running
MedGen UID:
108251
Concept ID:
C0560346
Finding
Reduced ability to run.
Neck flexor weakness
MedGen UID:
334801
Concept ID:
C1843637
Finding
Weakness of the muscles involved in neck flexion (sternocleidomastoid, longus capitus, longus colli, and scalenus anterior).
Nemaline bodies
MedGen UID:
814369
Concept ID:
C3808039
Finding
Nemaline rods are abnormal bodies that can occur in skeletal muscle fibers. The rods can be observed on histological analysis of muscle biopsy tissue or upon electron microscopy, where they appear either as extensions of sarcomeric Z-lines, in random array without obvious attachment to Z-lines (often in areas devoid of sarcomeres) or in large clusters localized at the sarcolemma or intermyofibrillar spaces.
Elevated circulating creatine kinase concentration
MedGen UID:
69128
Concept ID:
C0241005
Finding
An elevation of the level of the enzyme creatine kinase (also known as creatine phosphokinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) in the blood. CK levels can be elevated in a number of clinical disorders such as myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, and muscular dystrophy.

Professional guidelines

Curated

Nowak KJ, Davis MR, Wallgren-Pettersson C, Lamont PJ, Laing NG
Eur J Hum Genet 2012 Jun;20(6) Epub 2012 Apr 18 doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2012.70. PMID: 22510848Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Clinical prediction guides

Bouman K, Küsters B, De Winter JM, Gillet C, Van Kleef ESB, Eshuis L, Brochier G, Madelaine A, Labasse C, Boulogne C, Van Engelen BGM, Ottenheijm CAC, Romero NB, Voermans NC, Malfatti E
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2021 Mar 22;80(4):366-376. doi: 10.1093/jnen/nlab012. PMID: 33693846

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