LAMA2-Related Muscular Dystrophy: The Importance of Accurate Phenotyping and Brain Imaging in the Diagnosis of LGMD

J Neuromuscul Dis. 2023;10(1):125-133. doi: 10.3233/JND-221555.

Abstract

We report three siblings from a non-consanguineous family presenting with contractural limb-girdle phenotype with intrafamilial variability. Muscle MRI showed posterior thigh and quadriceps involvement with a sandwich-like sign. Whole-exome sequencing identified two compound heterozygous missense TTN variants and one heterozygous LAMA2 variant. Brain MRI performed because of concentration difficulties in one of the siblings evidenced white-matter abnormalities, subsequently found in the others. The genetic analysis was re-oriented, revealing a novel pathogenic intronic LAMA2 variant which confirmed the LAMA2-RD diagnosis. This work highlights the importance of a thorough clinical phenotyping and the importance of brain imaging, in order to orientate and interpret the genetic analysis.

Keywords: LAMA2; Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy; brain MRI; laminin-211; white matter.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Muscular Dystrophies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscular Dystrophies* / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle* / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle* / genetics
  • Neuroimaging