Marked Facial Weakness, Ptosis, and Hanging Jaw: A Case with RYR1 -Related Congenital Centronuclear Myopathy

Congenital myopathies are an expanding spectrum of neuromuscular disorders with early infantile or childhood onset hypotonia and slowly or nonprogressive skeletal muscle weakness. RYR1 -related myopathies are the most common and frequently diagnosed class of congenital myopathies. Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and central core disease are autosomal dominant or de novo RYR1 disorder, whereas multiminicore, congenital fiber type disproportion and centronuclear myopathy are autosomal recessive RYR1 disorders. The presence of ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, facial, and proximal muscles weakness, with the presence of dusty cores and multiple internal nuclei on muscle biopsy are clues to the diagnosis. We describe an 18-year-old male, who presented with early infantile onset ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, myopathic facies, hanging lower jaw, and proximal muscle weakness confirmed as an RYR1 -related congenital centronuclear myopathy on genetic analysis and muscle biopsy.

The genetics of congenital myopathies

Congenital myopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of conditions that most commonly present at or around the time of birth with hypotonia, muscle weakness, and (often) respiratory distress. Historically, this group of disorders has been subclassified based on muscle histopathologic characteristics. There has been an explosion of gene discovery, and there are now at least 32 different genetic causes of disease. With this increased understanding of the genetic basis of disease has come the knowledge that the mutations in congenital myopathy genes can present with a wide variety of clinical phenotypes and can result in a broad spectrum of histopathologic findings on muscle biopsy. In addition, mutations in several genes can share the same histopathologic features. The identification of new genes and interpretation of different pathomechanisms at a molecular level have helped us to understand the clinical and histopathologic similarities that this group of disorders share. In this review, we highlight the genetic understanding for each subtype, its pathogenesis, and the future key issues in congenital myopathies.

RYR1-Related Myopathies: Clinical, Histopathologic and Genetic Heterogeneity Among 17 Patients from a Portuguese Tertiary Centre

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants in ryanodine receptor type 1 (RYR1) gene are an important cause of congenital myopathy. The clinical, histopathologic and genetic spectrum is wide.

OBJECTIVE

Review a group of the patients diagnosed with ryanodinopathy in a tertiary centre from North Portugal, as an attempt to define some phenotypical patterns that may help guiding future diagnosis.

METHODS

Patients were identified from the database of the reference centre for Neuromuscular Disorders in North Portugal. Their data (clinical, histological and genetic) was retrospectively accessed.

RESULTS

Seventeen RYR1-related patients (including 4 familial cases) were identified. They were divided in groups according to three distinctive clinical characteristics: extraocular muscle (EOM) weakness (N = 6), disproportionate axial muscle weakness (N = 2) and joint laxity (N = 5). The fourth phenotype includes patients with mild tetraparesis and no distinctive clinical features (N = 4). Four different histopathological patterns were found: centronuclear (N = 5), central core (N = 4), type 1 fibres predominance (N = 4) and congenital fibre type disproportion (N = 1) myopathies. Each index case, except two patients, had a different RYR1 variant. Four new genetic variants were identified. All centronuclear myopathies were associated with autosomal recessive inheritance and EOM weakness. All central core myopathies were caused by pathogenic variants in hotspot 3 with autosomal dominant inheritance. Three genetic variants were reported to be associated to malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinctive clinical features were recognized as diagnostically relevant: extraocular muscle weakness (and centronuclear pattern on muscle biopsy), severe axial weakness disproportionate to the ambulatory state and mild tetraparesis associated with (proximal) joint laxity. There was a striking genetic heterogeneity, including four new RYR1 variants.

Systemic AAV8-Mediated Gene Therapy Drives Whole-Body Correction of Myotubular Myopathy in Dogs

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) results from MTM1 gene mutations and myotubularin deficiency. Most XLMTM patients develop severe muscle weakness leading to respiratory failure and death, typically within 2 years of age. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of systemic gene therapy in the p.N155K canine model of XLMTM by performing a dose escalation study. A recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8) vector expressing canine myotubularin (cMTM1) under the muscle-specific desmin promoter (rAAV8-cMTM1) was administered by simple peripheral venous infusion in XLMTM dogs at 10 weeks of age, when signs of the disease are already present. A comprehensive analysis of survival, limb strength, gait, respiratory function, neurological assessment, histology, vector biodistribution, transgene expression, and immune response was performed over a 9-month study period. Results indicate that systemic gene therapy was well tolerated, prolonged lifespan, and corrected the skeletal musculature throughout the body in a dose-dependent manner, defining an efficacious dose in this large-animal model of the disease. These results support the development of gene therapy clinical trials for XLMTM.

Consensus statement on standard of care for congenital myopathies

Recent progress in scientific research has facilitated accurate genetic and neuropathological diagnosis of congenital myopathies. However, given their relatively low incidence, congenital myopathies remain unfamiliar to the majority of care providers, and the levels of patient care are extremely variable. This consensus statement aims to provide care guidelines for congenital myopathies. The International Standard of Care Committee for Congenital Myopathies worked through frequent e-mail correspondences, periodic conference calls, 2 rounds of online surveys, and a 3-day workshop to achieve a consensus for diagnostic and clinical care recommendations. The committee includes 59 members from 10 medical disciplines. They are organized into 5 working groups: genetics/diagnosis, neurology, pulmonology, gastroenterology/nutrition/speech/oral care, and orthopedics/rehabilitation. In each care area the authors summarize the committee's recommendations for symptom assessments and therapeutic interventions. It is the committee's goal that through these recommendations, patients with congenital myopathies will receive optimal care and improve their disease outcome.