Myoclonus-dystonia syndrome: clinical presentation, disease course, and genetic features in 11 families

Mov Disord. 2008 Jan;23(1):28-34. doi: 10.1002/mds.21715.

Abstract

Myoclonus-dystonia syndrome (MDS) is an inherited movement disorder with clinical and genetic heterogeneity. The epsilon sarcoglycan (SGCE) gene is an important cause of MDS. We report the results of a clinical and genetic study of 20 patients from 11 families. We disclosed six novel and two previously described mutations in nine families. The majority of patients had a phenotype of myoclonus and dystonia in combination, but clinical findings considered atypical, such a very early onset, distal myoclonus, and legs involvement, were detected in a significant proportion of cases. The disease course was variable, from progression to spontaneous remission of the motor symptoms. There were no obvious differences between mutation-positive and -negative cases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / genetics
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Dystonia* / epidemiology
  • Dystonia* / genetics
  • Dystonia* / physiopathology
  • Electromyography
  • Exons / genetics
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Chaperones / genetics
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Myoclonus* / epidemiology
  • Myoclonus* / genetics
  • Myoclonus* / physiopathology
  • Point Mutation / genetics
  • Protein Splicing / genetics
  • Sarcoglycans / genetics
  • Syndrome
  • Upper Extremity / physiopathology

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • SGCE protein, human
  • Sarcoglycans
  • TOR1A protein, human