Acta neurologica Belgica
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Sep 2000
The expanding clinical and genetic spectrum of the myotonic dystrophies.
Core features of the dominantly inherited myotonic dystrophies are myotonia, muscle weakness and cataract. Classic myotonic dystrophy (Steinert's disease) has been defined as a genetic entity by the underlying CTG repeat expansion on chromosome 19q13.3 (= DM1 locus). Later on, another disorder similar to but different from myotonic dystrophy was described as proximal myotonic myopathy (PROMM). ⋯ In the majority of patients, the disorder seems to be more benign compared to Steinert's disease. However, life threatening cardiac involvement is possible; rarely, muscle weakness may progress until the patient is bedridden.--Some families with a PROMM-like phenotype do not link to the locus on 3q. The group of the myotonic dystrophies will get new members in the future.