Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is an autosomal dominant disorder with proximal weakness, muscle pain, and early-onset cataracts. In comparison with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), myotonia is less symptomatic, more proximal, and harder to detect during clinical and electrodiagnostic testing. Here we document the presence of trapezius myotonia in patients with DM2 (video on the Neurology® Web ...

Harper, P. S. (1975). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 50, 505. Congenital myotonic dystrophy in Britain. I. Clinical aspects. A clinical and genetic study of congenital myotonic dystrophy in Britain has been carried out in 70 patients from 54 sibships. The clinical aspects are analysed here, and the existence of a syndrome clinically distinct from myotonic dystrophy of later onset is confirme...

Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic muscular disease that is frequently associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Bradyarrhythmias, such as sinus bradycardia and atrioventricular block, are more common than tachyarrhythmias. Rarely, previously undiagnosed patients with myotonic dystrophy initially present with a tachyarrhythmia. We describe the case of a 14-year-old boy, who was admitted to the hospital...

Myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica), the commonest and most variable of the muscular dystrophies of adult life, has long been known to be associated with cataract, while slit-lamp examination for specific lens opacities has been one of the principal methods of presymptomatic detection of gene carriers. The recent discovery that the myotonic dystrophy mutation is an unstable DNA sequence, ...

Although the genetic basis of the congenital form of myotonic dystrophy has recently been clarified, data as to outcome in terms of life expectancy and morbidity are scanty. Life table data based on a cohort of 115 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of congenital myotonic dystrophy are presented. The data suggest a 25% chance of death before 18 months of age and a 50% chance of survival into t...

Myotonic dystrophy (dystrophia myotonica, DM) is the most frequently inherited neuromuscular disease of adult life. DM is a multisystem disease with major cardiac involvement. Core features of myotonic dystrophy are myotonia, muscle weakness, cataract, and cardiac conduction abnormalities. Classical DM (first described by Steinert and called Steinert’s disease or DM1) has been identified as an ...

Hopf's technique was used to measure maximal and minimal motor nerve conduction velocities, and the percentage of fibres with intermediate velocity, in the posterior tibial nerve in patients with myotonic dystrophy. A reduction of maximal and minimal conduction velocities was found. The distribution of fibres with intermediate velocity was nearly identical to that of the control group and the d...

The myotonic dystrophies are multisystem disorders characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, myotonia, cataracts, endocrine abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and cardiomyopathy. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common of the myotonic dystrophies. The cardiac-specific phenotypes of DM1 include progressive atrioventricular conduction delay, atrial and ventricular arrhyt...

Neither the maternal inheritance pattern nor the early onset of congenital myotonic dystrophy are fully explained. One possible mechanism is that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations might interact with the DM gene product, producing an earlier onset than would otherwise occur. We have used Southern hybridisation to show that high levels of major rearrangements of mtDNA are not present in muscle...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse self-rated perceived functioning, disability and environmental facilitators/barriers with regard to disease severity, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) checklist, in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1. DESIGN Cross-sectional design. SUBJECTS Forty-one women and 29 men with myo...