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Facts About

Limb-Girdle
Muscular Dystrophies

Updated December 2009


Dear Friends:

W hen I was 4 years old, my parents administrators, a real estate professional,


took me to a specialist to find out a travel agency operator — all with limb-
why I walked with an unusual waddle. girdle MD. Many of these bright, active,
They learned I had limb-girdle muscular independent people are married, and some
dystrophy. have children — and grandchildren.

Like many of you, we were shocked and Those of us with LGMD have a lot of sup-
scared by this diagnosis. My parents port today. People with disabilities have
wondered why I had this disease; we had more opportunities than ever before to
no history of it in our family. But, as this develop and use their abilities. Federal law
booklet explains, LGMD is caused by any guarantees us a public education, equal
of several rare genetic defects that people employment opportunity and access to
may not even know they have. That means public places. Computers and technology
it wasn’t caused by anything you or your help me and other people with muscular
parents did, and you didn’t catch it from dystrophy to move around, write, work
anyone. and drive.

My family had to learn a lot about mus- By far, my greatest ally in living with
cular dystrophy and make some major LGMD is MDA; I’m sure my parents would
adjustments, both physical and psycho- say the same thing. Be sure to read “MDA
logical. Our world came to include doctor Is Here to Help You” on page 10! The
visits, leg braces, physical therapy and Association is also the world leader in
lots of questions. But gradually, muscular research on neuromuscular diseases, and
Mandy Van Benthuysen dystrophy just became a part of our lives, its scientists have made many exciting
and we coped with it by learning all we discoveries about LGMD in the years since
could. Thanks to my determined parents, my diagnosis. We all pray for the day
my devoted sister and the help of the when no one has to have a neuromuscular
Muscular Dystrophy Association, I had a disease.
wonderful childhood.
This booklet will give you the basic facts
I graduated from college, and I’m now work- about LGMD, and MDA will help you
ing in L.A. in the television industry. I use a answer all your questions as they arise.
wheelchair or scooter part time to help me As you face the challenges ahead, please
when I work, travel and have fun with my remember two important things about
friends. having LGMD: First, MDA is making rapid
progress toward better treatments and a
I hope you can tell from my story that cure. Second, you’re not alone.
having limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
doesn’t mean the end of your choices
or your dreams. It isn’t easy to live with
muscles that grow weaker over time, but
you can have a very rewarding life with
Mandy Van Benthuysen
this condition.
Los Angeles
Not everyone with LGMD has the same
experience, but most of those I’ve met
have busy, fulfilling lives like mine. I know
of a writer, a doctor, an air traffic control-
ler, some teachers, school and college

2 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


What Is Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy?
L imb-girdle muscular dystrophy
(LGMD) isn’t really one disease. It’s
a group of disorders affecting voluntary
When protein problems arise because one of
these genes is faulty, fibers in the muscles
don’t work properly. Gradually, the muscles
muscles, mainly those around the hips become weak enough that people experi-
and shoulders — the pelvic and shoulder ence the symptoms of limb-girdle muscular
girdles, also known as the limb girdles. dystrophy. Because LGMD is progressive, the
muscles continue to get weaker throughout
You also may hear the term proximal used to the person’s lifetime.
describe the muscles that are most affected
in LGMD. The proximal muscles are those Six of the genes that, when flawed, cause
closest to the center of the body; distal LGMD lead to production of proteins that are
muscles are farther away from the center (for normally located in the muscle cell mem-
example, in the hands and feet). The distal brane. (The membrane is a thin sheath that
muscles are affected late in LGMD, if at all. surrounds each muscle cell, helping to pro-
tect it from injury during muscle contraction.)
Over time (usually many years), the person If any of these proteins is missing because
with LGMD loses muscle bulk and strength. the gene for it is flawed, the membrane
Eventually, he may need a power wheelchair probably loses some of its “shock absorber”
or scooter, especially for long distances. qualities and has a harder time protecting the
LGMD can begin in childhood, adolescence, muscle cell from injury during normal con-
young adulthood or even later. Both genders traction and relaxation cycles.
are affected equally. When limb-girdle mus- In LGMD, the muscle membrane also may be
cular dystrophy begins in childhood, some “leaky,” letting substances in or out that are
physicians say, the progression is usually supposed to stay on one side of the mem-
faster and the disease more disabling. When brane or the other. Membrane proteins, when
the disorder begins in adolescence or adult- they’re made correctly and are in their normal
hood, they say, it’s generally not as severe positions, may also perform other essential
and progresses more slowly. functions in the cell; these functions may be
defective when one or more of the proteins
What are the forms of limb- are absent.
girdle muscular dystrophy?
LGMD primarily affects the muscles Not all of the muscle proteins associated with
around the hips and shoulders. There are at least 19 forms of LGMD, and LGMD are in the membrane, however. For
they’re classified by the genetic flaws that instance, calpain-3 is probably located in the
appear to cause them (see “Known Forms main part of the muscle cell, and myotilin and
of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, page telethonin are located in the part of the mus-
7). As of 2007, 15 specific genes that lead cle cell that allows it to contract and relax.
to production of muscle proteins have been
implicated as definite causes of LGMD when The types of LGMD are generally classified by
they’re flawed. MDA research was behind letters and numbers that indicate which gene
much of the work that identified these LGMD is known or suspected to be involved and
genes. whether the disorder is inherited as a domi-
nant or recessive condition, meaning whether
Genes, located on chromosomes in each cell one or two flawed genes are needed to cause
in the body, are the codes, or recipes, for it. (See “Does It Run in the Family?” page 8.)
production of the body’s various proteins. Some physicians classify LGMD according to
The genes associated with LGMD normally which protein is missing or deficient, if this is
make proteins necessary for muscle function. known. For example, one form may be called

3 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


alpha-sarcoglycan deficiency, and another is certainty, although knowing the genetic muta-
known as beta-sarcoglycan deficiency. In the tion underlying your disease can be helpful.
future, the term limb-girdle muscular dystro-
phy may become obsolete and be replaced by What happens along
more specific terms. the way?
How fast does LGMD Often, people with LGMD first notice a prob-
lem when they begin to walk with a “wad-
progress? dling” gait because of weakness of the hip
It’s not yet possible to predict the course of and leg muscles. They may have trouble get-
LGMD in an individual. ting out of chairs, rising from a toilet seat or
climbing stairs.
Some forms of the disorder progress to
loss of walking ability within a few years and Weakness in the shoulder area may make
cause serious disability, while others prog- reaching over the head, holding the arms out-
ress very slowly over many years and cause stretched or carrying heavy objects difficult.
minimal disability. At this time, progression It may become increasingly hard to keep the
in each type of LGMD can’t be predicted with arms above the head for such activities as

The muscles most affected in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) are


those surrounding the shoulders and hips, with nearby muscles in the
upper legs and arms sometimes also weakening with time.
Inside each muscle cell, many proteins, some of which are shown
here in blue and yellow-orange, help the cell contract and
protect it from the stress of contractions.
When any of the proteins shown here in yellow-
orange are missing or nonfunctional, LGMD is
the result. At least six of these proteins are
Eventual loss of walking ability is com- normally found in the muscle cell membrane,
mon in LGMD, but some people walk a sheath surrounding each cell. They form
longer than others. part of the structure of the membrane.
Determining which proteins are
missing in LGMD and what
their normal functions
are in the muscle cell
are crucial steps
in developing
treatments.

lamin A/C
cell nucleus

POMT1
FKRP fukutin

4 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


combing your hair or arranging things on a muscle soreness and aching joints. Exercises
high shelf. Some people find it harder to type to keep joints limber, moving around as
on a computer or other keyboard and may much as possible, warm baths and, if need-
even have trouble feeding themselves. ed, medication can keep this kind of discom-
fort to a minimum.
Assistive devices, such as a cane or a long-
handled reacher, can make things easier as The brain, the intellect and the senses are
weakness progresses. unaffected in LGMD. People with LGMD can
think, see, hear and feel sensations as well as
A power wheelchair or scooter becomes con- those without muscular dystrophy.
venient when weakness in the pelvic girdle
and upper legs causes frequent falls. People
whose LGMD has reached this stage often
What tests are used to
find that a great deal of their independence diagnose LGMD?
returns, and they’re much less fatigued, when In diagnosing any form of muscular dys-
they begin using this type of vehicle. trophy, a doctor usually begins by taking a
patient and family history and performing a
The heart can be affected in LGMD, but this
physical examination. Much can be learned
doesn’t occur as often as it does in some
A wheelchair or scooter, such as the from these, including the pattern of weak-
one this physician with LGMD uses, other forms of muscular dystrophy. Heart
ness. The history and physical go a long way
becomes convenient when weakness in problems can take two forms — weak-
the pelvic girdle and upper legs causes toward making the diagnosis, even before
ness of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
frequent falls. any laboratory tests are done.
and abnormal transmission of signals that
regulate the heartbeat (conduction abnormali- The doctor also wants to determine whether
ties or arrhythmias). The heart should be the patient’s weakness results from a prob-
monitored for these complications. When lem in the muscles themselves or in the
necessary, medications or devices (such as nerves that control them. Problems with
pacemakers) can be used to treat them. muscle-controlling nerves, or motor nerves,
originating in the spinal cord and reaching
Respiratory (breathing) function can decline
out to all the muscles, can cause weakness
over time, and this, too, should be monitored
that looks like a muscle problem but really
regularly. There are devices that can help
isn’t.
sustain respiratory function.
Usually, the origin of the weakness can be
What’s not affected in LGMD? pinpointed by a physical exam. Occasionally,
special testing called electromyography is
LGMD, like other muscular dystrophies, is
done. In this kind of test, the electrical activ-
LGMD doesn’t impair the intellect, the primarily a disorder of voluntary muscles.
senses or the desire for a challenge.
ity of the muscles is measured and nerves
These are the muscles you use to move the
stimulated to see where the problem lies.
limbs, neck, trunk and other parts of the body
Electromyography is uncomfortable but not
that are under voluntary control.
usually very painful.
The involuntary muscles, except for the
A nerve conduction study also may be done.
heart (which is a special type of involuntary
This too is uncomfortable, but not seriously
muscle), aren’t affected in LGMD.
painful.
Digestion, bowel and bladder functions and
Early in the diagnostic process, doctors often
sexual function, which are carried out by
order a special blood test called a CK level.
involuntary muscles, remain normal.
CK stands for creatine kinase, an enzyme that
Severe pain isn’t a major part of LGMD, leaks out of damaged muscle. When elevated
although limited mobility sometimes leads to CK levels are found in a blood sample, it

5 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


usually means muscle is being destroyed by biopsy findings or symptoms clearly associ-
some abnormal process, such as a muscular ated with one or two types of LGMD), it may
dystrophy or inflammation. Therefore, a high be practical to do DNA testing to pinpoint the
CK level suggests that the muscles them- gene defect. However, if there are no such
selves are the likely cause of the weakness, clues, testing for more than a dozen genetic
but it doesn’t tell exactly what the muscle defects is available but extremely expensive.
disorder might be.
Understanding your inheritance pattern may,
Today, DNA testing to look for genetic flaws however, be important for family planning.
that are known to cause LGMD is available Your family history can help determine the
for several forms of the disease and is rapidly inheritance pattern of your disorder.
expanding. If a particular type of LGMD is
suspected, DNA testing, using a blood sam- Treatment for LGMD, mainly involving physi-
ple, may be undertaken relatively early in the cal and occupational therapy, assistive devic-
diagnostic process, often before the doctor es, and monitoring for heart and breathing
considers a more invasive procedure. complications, is essentially the same in all
forms of the disease. An individual’s precise
In some cases it is necessary for a doctor to genetic defect makes little difference in these
order a muscle biopsy, the surgical removal interventions.
of a small sample of muscle from the patient.
By examining this sample, doctors can tell Can special diets help
An echocardiogram (ultrasound imag-
a great deal about what’s actually happen- in LGMD?
ing of the heart) can be used to moni- ing inside the muscles. Using a variety of
tor heart function in LGMD. techniques, muscular dystrophies can be At this time, no special dietary restrictions or
distinguished from inflammatory and other additions are known to help in LGMD.
disorders. Specific testing of the biopsy also
Many people, when they hear the words “lack
may distinguish among different forms of
of a protein,” logically ask, “Should I eat
muscular dystrophy.
more protein?” Unfortunately, eating more
Tests on the biopsy sample also can provide protein than your normal requirement has
information about which muscle proteins no effect on any of the proteins missing in
are present in the muscle cells, and whether LGMD. It’s true that when you eat a steak,
they’re present in the normal amounts and you’re ingesting many muscle proteins (from
in the right locations. This can tell the doc- the cow). Your body then breaks down these
The diagnostic process usually begins
with a history and physical examina- tor and patient what’s wrong with the cells’ proteins into their component parts and uses
tion. proteins and provide likely candidates as to them to build its own proteins. But a person
which genes are responsible for the problem. who lacks the genetic instructions to make
The correlation between missing proteins these new proteins won’t be able to make
on the muscle biopsy and genetic flaws isn’t them no matter how much protein he eats.
perfect, however.
A doctor may advise a weight reduction or
weight stabilization diet for some people
Is it important to find out with LGMD. Being markedly overweight puts
what genetic type of LGMD greater stress on already weakened muscles.
a person has?
At this time, genetic testing to determine an
Are there special exercises
individual’s exact type of LGMD is commer- that can help?
cially available for only some LGMD forms. A physical therapy program is usually part
If there are clues as to what gene is involved of the treatment for LGMD. Your MDA clinic
(from previously tested family members, physician may refer you to the physical

6 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


therapy department at your medical center for cles as toned as possible without causing
a thorough evaluation and an individualized undue stress on them. The buoyancy of the
exercise program. water helps protect against certain kinds of
muscle strain and injury. Before undertaking
The primary goals of physical therapy are an exercise program, make sure you’ve had a
to allow greater motion in the joints and to cardiac evaluation. And don’t swim alone.
prevent contractures (freezing of the joints).
These problems can arise when movement Occupational therapy focuses more on specif-
is limited, and it’s important for the patient’s ic activities and functions, particularly use of
comfort and function to avoid them. the hands, while physical therapy emphasizes
mobility and (where possible) strengthening
Doctors and therapists have somewhat differ- of large muscle groups. Your MDA clinic also
ent opinions on the relative value or danger can refer you to the occupational therapy
of various exercise regimens in people with department, where you can receive help with
muscular dystrophy. In LGMD, certain kinds tasks related to your job, recreation or daily
of stress-causing exercises may actually has- living. For example, arm supports can make
ten muscle damage. tasks such as using a computer or fixing your
Some experts recommend swimming and hair less tiring.
Some experts recommend swimming water exercises as a good way to keep mus-
and water exercises to keep muscles
toned.
Known Forms of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Type Pattern of Inheritance Gene or Chromosome
LGMD1A Autosomal dominant Myotilin gene
LGMD1B Autosomal dominant Lamin A/C gene
LGMD1C Autosomal dominant Caveolin gene
LGMD1D Autosomal dominant Chromosome 7
LGMD1E Autosomal dominant Chromosome 6
An important goal of physical therapy LGMD1F Autosomal dominant Chromosome 7
is to allow greater motion in the
joints. LGMD1G Autosomal dominant Chromosome 4
LGMD2A Autosomal recessive Calpain-3 gene
LGMD2B Autosomal recessive Dysferlin gene
LGMD2C Autosomal recessive Gamma-sarcoglycan gene
LGMD2D Autosomal recessive Alpha-sarcoglycan gene
LGMD2E Autosomal recessive Beta-sarcoglycan gene
LGMD2F Autosomal recessive Delta-sarcoglycan gene
LGMD2G Autosomal recessive Telethonin gene
LGMD2H Autosomal recessive TRIM32
LGMD2I Autosomal recessive FKRP gene
LGMD2J Autosomal recessive Titin gene
LGMD2K Autosomal recessive POMT1 gene
LGMD2L Autosomal recessive Fukutin gene
These forms of LGMD have been identified since the early 1990s. More forms will
undoubtedly be discovered as research continues.

7 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


Does It Run in the Family?
O n being told they have a genetic
disorder such as LGMD, bewildered
patients often ask, “But it doesn’t run in
have to start somewhere), so there may
really be no family history or even carri-
ers of the disorder in the family. However,
the family, so how could it be genetic?” once someone develops a genetic disease,
even if the mutation is spontaneous (new)
LGMD can run in a family, even if only one with that person, he or she can then pass
person in the biological family has it. This on the mutation to any offspring, thereby
is because of the ways in which genetic introducing the gene for the disease into
diseases are inherited. the family.
LGMD can be inherited in one of two basic The details of inheritance risks for any
ways, known as the autosomal dominant particular form of LGMD depend on many
pattern and the autosomal recessive pat- circumstances, including exactly which
tern. “Known Forms of LGMD” on page 7 type of LGMD has been diagnosed. A good
shows which types follow each pattern. way to find out more is to talk to your
The word autosomal means that the genes MDA clinic physician or ask to see the
involved aren’t on the X or Y chromosome genetic counselor at the MDA clinic. You
and, therefore, don’t have a preference for also can read MDA’s booklet “Facts About
either men or women. Genetics and Neuromuscular Diseases.”

LGMD can run in a family, In diseases with dominant inheritance


even if only one person in patterns, a person who inherits a flawed
the biological family has it. gene from one parent will have disease
symptoms. That parent would also have
the disease.

In diseases with recessive inheritance, a


person must inherit two flawed genes —
one from each parent — to have disease
symptoms. The parents don’t have symp-
toms.

A recessive form of LGMD can show up in


one person when there’s no family history.
Other family members may have been
carriers, having no disease symptoms.
Carriers have the genetic flaw (mutation)
on a chromosome and can have a child
with the disease, but only if the child’s
other parent is also a carrier. So it isn’t
unusual for carriers of a rare recessive
disease not to know they’re carriers until
someone in the family develops the dis-
ease.

Just to make things a little more compli-


cated, a person with LGMD may have a
brand new genetic mutation (after all, they

8 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


MDA’s Search for Treatments and Cures
T he MDA website is constantly updated
with the latest information about the
neuromuscular diseases in its program.
regions (“exon skipping”); this research
also may have relevance for LGMD treat-
ment.
See the latest research news at www.mda.
org. Another avenue of investigation is block-
ing a natural protein called myostatin,
Throughout the 1990s and the first decade which puts a brake on muscle growth.
of the 21st century, MDA-supported This strategy has the potential to treat
researchers identified dozens of genes a variety of conditions in which muscle
that, when defective, cause LGMD. growth or maintenance is insufficient.

This gene identification work continues Still another strategy is to use stem cells
to the present day, along with research to to help ailing muscles regain strength.
determine the precise function of these Stem cells are early-stage, flexible cells
genes so that missing functions can be that can give rise to mature muscle fibers.
compensated for and toxic functions can They’re found in muscle tissue and other
be inhibited. places in the body, and scientists are
working to determine which cells are the
In the recessive forms of LGMD, it may be safest and most effective to test in people
possible to insert a new gene to compensate with LGMD and other diseases.
for one that isn’t working properly. This
type of intervention — gene therapy — has MDA-supported researchers worldwide
shown promise in a pilot trial in people with continue to pursue every avenue that
the alpha-sarcoglycan-deficient form of might lead to potential treatments for
LGMD. LGMD.

In the dominant forms of LGMD, blocking


a toxic function using strategies such as
“antisense,” which keep cells from inter-
preting genetic information, may become
a treatment in the future.

Some genetic mutations, known as “pre-


mature stop codons,” cause cells to stop
reading genetic instructions before a fully
functional protein has been synthesized.
A drug that causes cells to “read through”
these stop codons is being tested in
another form of muscular dystrophy
(Duchenne) and may have some applica-
tion in LGMD.

Some genetic mutations add or remove


DNA and change the way cells interpret
the information in a gene. In Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, clinical trials are
under way of compounds that coax cells
to snip out these error-containing DNA

9 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


MDA Is Here to Help You

T he Muscular Dystrophy Association


offers a vast array of services to help
you and your family deal with LGMD.
Everyone registered with MDA automati-
cally receives Quest, MDA’s award-win-
ning quarterly magazine. Quest publishes
The staff at your local MDA office is detailed articles about research findings,
there to assist you in many ways. The medical and day-to-day care, helpful
Association’s services include: products and devices, social and family
issues, and much more. Other MDA pub-
• nationwide network of clinics staffed by lications can be found at www.mda.org/
top neuromuscular disease specialists publications; many booklets are available
• MDA summer camps for kids with neu- in Spanish. Ask your local office for “MDA
romuscular diseases Services for the Individual, Family and
Community” and for help with obtaining
• help with locating durable medical copies of other publications.
equipment through its national equip-
ment program If you have any questions about LGMD,
someone at MDA will help you find the
• financial assistance with repairs or answer. To reach your local MDA office,
modifications to all types of durable call (800) 572-1717.
medical equipment

• annual occupational, physical, respira-


tory or speech therapy consultations

• annual flu shots

On the cover: • support groups for those affected,


Amy was found to have limb-girdle MD spouses, parents or other caregivers
at age 8 and began using a wheelchair
in her teens. Now married, she teaches
high school Spanish and has been • online support services through the
nationally honored for her teaching e-community myMDA and through
and as the 2003 recipient of the MDA myMuscleTeam, a program that helps
National Personal Achievment Award.
recruit and coordinate in-home help

MDA’s public health education program


helps you stay abreast of research news,
medical findings and disability information
through magazines, publications, edu-
cational speakers, seminars, videos and
newsletters.

MDA’s website at www.mda.org contains


thousands of pages of valuable informa-
tion, including disease specifics, research
findings, clinical trials and past magazine
articles.

10 LGMD • ©2011 MDA


MDA’s Purpose and Programs
T he Muscular Dystrophy Association
fights neuromuscular diseases through
an unparalleled worldwide research effort.
Metabolic Diseases of Muscle
Phosphorylase deficiency (McArdle disease)
Acid maltase deficiency (Pompe disease)
The following diseases are included in Phosphofructokinase deficiency
MDA’s program: (Tarui disease)
Debrancher enzyme deficiency
Muscular Dystrophies
(Cori or Forbes disease)
Myotonic dystrophy (Steinert disease)
Mitochondrial myopathy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Carnitine deficiency
Becker muscular dystrophy
Carnitine palmityl transferase deficiency
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
Phosphoglycerate kinase deficiency
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency
Congenital muscular dystrophy
Lactate dehydrogenase deficiency
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency
Distal muscular dystrophy
Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy Myopathies Due to Endocrine
Abnormalities
Motor Neuron Diseases
Hyperthyroid myopathy
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Hypothyroid myopathy
Infantile progressive spinal
muscular atrophy Other Myopathies
(Type 1, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease) Myotonia congenita
Intermediate spinal muscular atrophy Paramyotonia congenita
(Type 2) Central core disease
Juvenile spinal muscular atrophy Nemaline myopathy
(Type 3, Kugelberg-Welander disease) Myotubular myopathy
Adult spinal muscular atrophy (Type 4) Periodic paralysis
Spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy
(Kennedy disease)

Inflammatory Myopathies
Polymyositis
MDA’s website, mda.org, is Dermatomyositis
constantly updated with the latest Inclusion-body myositis
research news and information
about the diseases in its program.
Diseases of Neuromuscular
Follow MDA on Facebook, Twitter
Junction
and YouTube. Myasthenia gravis
Lambert-Eaton (myasthenic) syndrome
Congenital myasthenic syndromes

Diseases of Peripheral Nerve


mda.org • (800) 572-1717 Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Friedreich’s ataxia
Dejerine-Sottas disease
©2009, 2011, Muscular Dystrophy
Association Inc.
P-209W 7/11

11 LGMD • ©2011 MDA

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