Phénotypage cardiaque des dystrophies musculaires à l'aide des ultrasons

Muscular dystrophies are genetic neuromuscular disorders that affect skeletal muscle. We sought to assess heat involvement in four genetic muscular disorders : Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sarcoglycanopathies, MELAS and adulte Pompe disease. In animal models, we sought to assess, using Echocardiography Doppler, mdx mice and sgca null mice. Myocardiac abnormalities were found in mdx mice and sgca null mice. Clinical studies found severe cardiac impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophies and ventricular asynchrony was found in patients with severe heart failure. Patients with gamma sarcoglycanopathy have significant alteration of left ventricular function in comparison with patients with alpha sarcoglycanopathy. Left and right ventricular function were preserved in patients with Pompe disease. Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in patients with MELAS. Genetic analysis disclosed significant correlation between heteroplasmy and significant clinical events.Les myopathies d’origine génétique sont des pathologies musculaires en rapport avec des anomalies génétiques. Les myopathies sont à l’origine d’un handicap physique majeur et affectent souvent la fonction respiratoire et parfois le cœur. Nous nous sommes intéressés à la caractérisation myocardique de 4 types de myopathies d’origine génétique à l’aide de l’échocardiographie Doppler : myopathie de Duchenne, sarcoglycanopathies, MELAS syndrome et maladie de Pompe.Nous avons analysé la fonction cardiaque dans 2 modèles murins de dystrophies musculaires: la souris mdx et la souris sgca null. En clinique, nous avons analysé la fonction cardiaque des sujets atteints de myopathie de Duchenne, de sarcoglycanopathies, de MELAS syndrome et de maladie de Pompe en échocardiographie Doppler.Dans les modèles animaux, nous avons retrouvé des anomalies myocardiques chez la souris mdx et chez la souris sgca null. Chez l’homme, l’atteinte myocardique est sévère chez les sujets atteints de myopathie de Duchenne et certains patients présentent un asynchronisme ventriculaire soulevant les indications éventuelles de resynchronisation myocardique. Les sujets atteints de gamma sarcoglycanopathies présentent de façon significative des anomalies de contraction du ventricule gauche comparativement aux sujets atteints d’alpha-sarcoglycanopathies. La fonction ventriculaire droite et gauche est préservée chez les sujets atteints de maladie de Pompe. Les sujets atteints de MELAS présentent des hypertrophies du ventricule gauche. L’analyse génétique retrouve une corrélation significative entre le taux d’hétéroplamie et la survenue d’événements cliniques

263 Cardiac characterization of sgca-null mouse, a model of alpha-sarcoglycanopathy, by using echocardiography

Alpha-sarcoglycanopathy (LGMD2D) is an autosomal recessive inherited limb-girdle muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the alpha-sarcoglycan gene, SGCA. Disruption of SGCA gene in mouse (Sgca-null mouse) shares many of clinical pictures observed in patients. Mice disclose progressive muscular dystrophy. We sought to characterize cardiac function in this disease in order to evaluate target therapy. After shaving, Sgca-null mice were anaesthetized with isoflurane before performing echocardiography. Echocardiography was performed with a Vevo 770 Visuals Sonics (30 MHz cardiac probe). Mice were analysed at 5, 13, and 17 months.Control and Sgca-null mice were similar regarding age and heart rate. At age 5 months, in Sgca-null mice, we found significant anatomical differences regarding the inter-ventricular septal (IVS) wall thickness and the posterior wall (PW) thickness, as compared to their control. The IVS diastolic thickness was significantly increased in Sgca-null mice (0.91mm+/–0.06 vs 0.73 mm+/–0.02; p=0.003). Furthermore, the PW diastolic thickness was also increased in Sgca-null mice compared to WT (0.81mm+/–0.07 vs 0.69 mm+/–0.03; p=0.03). Also, LV mass was significantly increased in Sgca-null mice (147mg+/–15 vs 117.6mg+/–5.3; p=0. 02). At age 13 months, LV mass was significantly higher in Sgca-null mice (LV mass 205.22 mg vs 143 mg; p =0.001).The PW thickness was significantly different in the 2 groups (0.89 mm in Sgca-null vs 0.73 mm; p=0,02). Moreover, Sgca-null mice at 13 months disclosed dilatation of the left ventricle (LVEDD: 4.84mm vs 4.29 mm; p= 0.019). Systolic function was conserved in the 2 groups at 13 months regarding SF and EF.At age 17 months, we noted a decreasing of the posterior wall thickening (17% vs 30%; p= 0.036) and an increasing of the LV mass/weight (5.6 vs 3.9; p=0,016). No significant differences were found regarding the other anatomic echocardiography parameters.This study is unique and provides data that will help researchers to evaluate the efficiency of pharmaceutical or gene cardiac therapies

Should we perform systematic electrophysiological study in Steinert's disease?

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (Steinert's disease) is a multisystem disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance. This disease is associated with the presence of an abnormal expansion of a cytosine thymine-guanine (CTG) trinucleotide repeat on chromosome 19q13.3. Because of rhythmic complications, the place for systematic electrophysiological study (EPS) has to be discussed

Natural History of Cardiac and Respiratory Involvement, Prognosis and Predictive Factors for Long-Term Survival in Adult Patients with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophies Type 2C and 2D

International audienceBackgroundType 2C and 2D limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) are a group of autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophies manifested by proximal myopathy, impaired respiratory muscle function and cardiomyopathy. The correlation and the prognostic impact of respiratory and heart impairment are poorly described. We aimed to describe the long-term cardiac and respiratory follow-up of these patients and to determine predictive factors of cardio-respiratory events and mortality in LGMD 2C and 2D.MethodsWe reviewed the charts of 34 LGMD patients, followed from 2005 to 2015, to obtain echocardiographic, respiratory function and sleep recording data. We considered respiratory events (acute respiratory failure, pulmonary sepsis, atelectasis or pneumothorax), cardiac events (acute heart failure, significant cardiac arrhythmia or conduction block, ischemic stroke) and mortality as outcomes of interest for the present analysis.ResultsA total of 21 patients had type 2C LGMD and 13 patients had type 2D. Median age was 30 years [IQR 24–38]. At baseline, median pulmonary vital capacity (VC) was 31% of predicted value [20–40]. Median maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was 31 cmH2O [IQR 20.25–39.75]. Median maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) was 30 cm H2O [20–36]. Median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55% [45–64] with 38% of patients with LVEF <50%. Over a median follow-up of 6 years, we observed 38% respiratory events, 14% cardiac events and 20% mortality. Among baseline characteristics, LVEF and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were associated with mortality, whilst respiratory parameters (VC, MIP, MEP) and the need for home mechanical ventilation (HMV) were associated with respiratory events.ConclusionIn our cohort of severely respiratory impaired type 2C and 2D LGMD, respiratory morbidity was high. Cardiac dysfunction was frequent in particular in LGMD 2C and had an impact on long-term mortality

Accuracy of B-natriuretic peptide for the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure in muscular dystrophies patients with chronic respiratory failure

Heart failure and restrictive respiratory insufficiency are complications in muscular dystrophies. We aimed to assess the accuracy of the B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) for the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure in muscular dystrophy. We included patients with muscular dystrophy and chronic respiratory insufficiency admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the Raymond Poincare hospital (Garches, France) for suspected decompensated heart failure. Thirtyseven patients were included, among them, 23 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (62%), 10 myotonic dystrophy type 1(DM1) (27%). Median age was 35 years [27.5; 48.5]. 86.5% of patients were on home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 47% [35.0; 59.5]. Median BNP blood level was 104 pg/mL [50; 399]. The BNP level was significantly inversely associated with LVEF (r= –0.37, p 0.03) and positively associated with the LVEDD (left ventricular end diastolic diameter) (r=0.59, P<0.001). The discriminative value of the BNP level for the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure was high with an AUROC=0.94 (P<0.001). The best discriminating BNP threshold was 307 pg/mL (Youden index 0.85). The BNP level measurement may add a supplemental key for the final diagnosis of decompensated heart failure

Assessment of diaphragm motion using ultrasonography in a patient with facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy: A case report.

Diaphragm is the main inspiratory respiratory muscle and little is known about diaphragm ultrasound in facio-scapula-humeral muscular dystrophy, a neuromuscular disease characterized by an asymmetric skeletal muscle involvement. Diaphragm function evaluation DIAGNOSIS:: Diaphragm muscle weakness attested by the drop of vital capacity (VC) value from sitting position (74%) to supine position (46%). A diaphragm ultrasound was performed in supine position, from the anterior subcostal window OUTCOMES:: We found an opposite side to side hemi diaphragm displacement, either during sniff maneuver or during deep inspiration maneuver, showing a cranial abnormal reduced motion of the right hemi diaphragm whereas the left hemi diaphragm moved caudally. Diaphragm weakness may be present with an asymmetric pattern and an opposite motion during inspiration or sniff manoeuver in facio-scapula-humeral muscular dystrophy. A future study with a systematic evaluation of a greater number of FSHD1 patients will be necessary to characterize this population

Pentamidine rescues contractility and rhythmicity in a Drosophila model of myotonic dystrophy heart dysfunction

Up to 80% of individuals with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) will develop cardiac abnormalities at some point during the progression of their disease, the most common of which is heart blockage of varying degrees. Such blockage is characterized by conduction defects and supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia, and carries a high risk of sudden cardiac death. Despite its importance, very few animal model studies have focused on the heart dysfunction in DM1. Here, we describe the characterization of the heart phenotype in a Drosophila model expressing pure expanded CUG repeats under the control of the cardiomyocyte-specific driver GMH5-Gal4. Morphologically, expression of 250 CUG repeats caused abnormalities in the parallel alignment of the spiral myofibrils in dissected fly hearts, as revealed by phalloidin staining. Moreover, combined immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization of Muscleblind and CUG repeats, respectively, confirmed detectable ribonuclear foci and Muscleblind sequestration, characteristic features of DM1, exclusively in flies expressing the expanded CTG repeats. Similarly to what has been reported in humans with DM1, heart-specific expression of toxic RNA resulted in reduced survival, increased arrhythmia, altered diastolic and systolic function, reduced heart tube diameters and reduced contractility in the model flies. As a proof of concept that the fly heart model can be used for in vivo testing of promising therapeutic compounds, we fed flies with pentamidine, a compound previously described to improve DM1 phenotypes. Pentamidine not only released Muscleblind from the CUG RNA repeats and reduced ribonuclear formation in the Drosophila heart, but also rescued heart arrhythmicity and contractility, and improved fly survival in animals expressing 250 CUG repeats

Diaphragm: Pathophysiology and Ultrasound Imaging in Neuromuscular Disorders.

Respiratory muscles are classically involved in neuromuscular disorders, leading to a restrictive respiratory pattern. The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle involved during inspiration. Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive, radiation-free, accurate and safe technique allowing assessment of diaphragm anatomy and function. The authors review the pathophysiology of diaphragm in neuromuscular disorders, the methodology and indications of diaphragm ultrasound imaging as well as possible pitfalls in the interpretation of results

Long-Term Blocking of Calcium Channels in mdx Mice Results in Differential Effects on Heart and Skeletal Muscle

The disease mechanisms underlying dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy are complex, involving not only muscle membrane fragility, but also dysregulated calcium homeostasis. Specifically, it has been proposed that calcium channels directly initiate a cascade of pathological events by allowing calcium ions to enter the cell. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronically blocking calcium channels with the aminoglycoside antibiotic streptomycin from onset of disease in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)