Over the past decade there have been major advances in defining the genetic basis of the majority of congenital myopathy subtypes. However the relationship between each congenital myopathy, defined on histological grounds, and the genetic cause is complex. Many of the congenital myopathies are due to mutations in more than one gene, and mutations in the same gene can cause different muscle pathologies. The International Standard of Care Committee for Congenital Myopathies performed a literature review and consulted a group of experts in the field to develop a summary of (1) the key features common to all forms of congenital myopathy and (2) the specific features that help to discriminate between the different genetic subtypes. The consensus statement was refined by two rounds of on-line survey, and a three-day workshop. This consensus statement provides guidelines to the physician assessing the infant or child with hypotonia and weakness. We summarise the clinical features that are most suggestive of a congenital myopathy, the major differential diagnoses and the features on clinical examination, investigations, muscle pathology and muscle imaging that are suggestive of a specific genetic diagnosis to assist in prioritisation of genetic testing of known genes. As next generation sequencing becomes increasingly used as a diagnostic tool in clinical practise, these guidelines will assist in determining which sequence variations are likely to be pathogenic.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance can identify MF and may be useful for detecting the early stages of cardiomyopathy in MD. Future work will be needed to evaluate whether CMR can influence cardiomyopathy and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate muscle force and motor function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a period of six months. METHOD: Twenty children and adolescents with diagnosis of DMD were evaluated trough: measurement of the strength of the flexors and extensors of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle through the Medical Research Council (MRC), and application of the Motor Function Measure (MFM). The patients were evaluated twice within a six-month interval. RESULTS: Loss of muscle strength was identified in the MRC score for upper proximal members (t=-2.17, p=0.04). In the MFM, it was noted significant loss in the dimension 1 (t=-3.06, p=0.006). Moderate and strong correlations were found between the scores for muscular strength and the MFM dimensions. CONCLUSION: The MFM scale was a useful instrument in the follow up of patients with DMD. Moreover, it is a more comprehensive scale to assess patients and very good for conducting trials to evaluate treatment.

A deficiência de biotinidase é doença metabólica hereditária com expressão fenotípica variada, na qual há defeito no metabolismo da biotina. A sintomatologia da forma clássica é frequentemente neurológica e cutânea, podendo ocorrer sequelas como: distúrbios auditivos, visuais, atraso motor e de linguagem. Essas manifestações são, geralmente, irreversíveis, mesmo após instituição do tratamento, que é simples e de baixo custo, baseado na reposição oral de biotina, 5 a 20 mg/dia, por toda a vida. O tratamento, quando iniciado nos primeiros meses de vida, evita o aparecimento da sintomatologia referida. A prevalência combinada da doença é variável, de 1:60.000 a 1:9.000. A deficiência de biotinidase preenche critérios da Organização Mundial de Saúde para triagem neonatal devido ao fato dos seus portadores serem assintomáticos nesse período da vida, possuir alta morbidade e tratamento efetivo e de baixo custo. O objetivo deste estudo é o de revisar a literatura nacional e internacional referente aos aspectos relevantes da deficiência de biotinidase.

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