Scoliosis associated with early muscle weakness should prompt a search for CMS

This is the conclusion of an article by a Turkish team which reviewed the records of eleven patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome presenting with scoliosis:

  • the mean age was 5.78 ± 3.27 years and the mean age at diagnosis was 3.55 ± 2.93 years;
  • seven children had a mutation in the COLQ gene, two in the CHAT gene, one in the RASPN gene and one in the DOK7 gene;
  • of the eight children who had an electromyogram, one had no abnormality, while the other seven had a decrement;
  • all the children had ptosis and six had bulbar signs;
  • apart from attacks, the respiratory function of ten children was normal, while the eleventh was on permanent assisted ventilation;
  • two children, one with a mutation in the CHAT gene, the other in the RASPN gene, had arthrogryposis.

 

Can Scoliosis Help the Early Diagnosis of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome? Kaya O, Kirik S. Cureus. 2023 Sep 24;15(9):e45875.