Natural History of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy in Children A 2-Year Follow-upShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Neurology, ISSN 0028-3878, E-ISSN 1526-632X, Vol. 97, no 21, p. E2103-E2113Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Background and Objectives Data on the natural history of facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) in childhood are limited and critical for improved patient care and clinical trial readiness. Our objective was to describe the disease course of FSHD in children. Methods We performed a nationwide, single-center, prospective cohort study of FSHD in childhood assessing muscle functioning, imaging, and quality of life over 2 years of follow-up. Results We included 20 children with genetically confirmed FSHD who were 2 to 17 years of age. Overall, symptoms were slowly progressive, and the mean FSHD clinical score increased from 2.1 to 2.8 (p = 0.003). The rate of progression was highly variable. At baseline, 16 of 20 symptomatic children had facial weakness; after 2 years, facial weakness was observed in 19 of 20 children. Muscle strength did not change between baseline and follow-up. The most frequently and most severely affected muscles were the trapezius and deltoid. The functional exercise capacity, measured with the 6-minute walk test, improved. Systemic features were infrequent and nonprogressive. Weakness-associated complications such as lumbar hyperlordosis and dysarthria were common, and their prevalence increased during follow-up. Pain and fatigue were frequent complaints in children, and their prevalence also increased during follow-up. Muscle ultrasonography revealed a progressive increase in echogenicity. Discussion FSHD in childhood has a slowly progressive but variable course over 2 years of follow-up. The most promising outcome measures to detect progression were the FSHD clinical score and muscle ultrasonography. Despite this disease progression, an improvement on functional capacity may still occur as the child grows up. Pain, fatigue, and a decreased quality of life were common symptoms and need to be addressed in the management of childhood FSHD. Our data can be used to counsel patients and as baseline measures for treatment trials in childhood FSHD.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS , 2021. Vol. 97, no 21, p. E2103-E2113
National Category
Neurology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-182240DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012882ISI: 000736051600018PubMedID: 34675094OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-182240DiVA, id: diva2:1626962
Note
Funding Agencies|charitable foundation Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds/Spieren voor Spieren [W.OR14.22]
2022-01-122022-01-122022-01-12