Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update

Muscular dystrophies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders involving the skeletal muscles. They have a progressive clinical course and are characterized by muscle fiber degeneration. Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) include dystroglycanopathies, merosin-deficient CMD...

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Main Authors: Deepti Narasimhaiah, Megha S Uppin, Prajnya Ranganath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2022;volume=65;issue=5;spage=259;epage=270;aulast=Narasimhaiah
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author Deepti Narasimhaiah
Megha S Uppin
Prajnya Ranganath
author_facet Deepti Narasimhaiah
Megha S Uppin
Prajnya Ranganath
author_sort Deepti Narasimhaiah
collection DOAJ
description Muscular dystrophies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders involving the skeletal muscles. They have a progressive clinical course and are characterized by muscle fiber degeneration. Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) include dystroglycanopathies, merosin-deficient CMD, collagen VI-deficient CMD, SELENON-related rigid spine muscular dystrophy, and LMNA-related CMD. Childhood and adult-onset muscular dystrophies include dystrophinopathies, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy. Traditionally, muscle biopsy and histopathology along with special pathology techniques such as immunohistochemistry or immunoblotting were used for the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies. However, recent advances in molecular genetic testing, especially the next-generation sequencing technology, have revolutionized the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies. Identification of the underlying genetic basis helps in appropriate management and prognostication of the affected individual and genetic counseling of the family. In addition, identification of the exact disease-causing mutations is necessary for accurate prenatal genetic testing and carrier testing, to prevent recurrence in the family. Mutation identification is also essential for initiating mutation-specific therapies (which have been developed recently, especially for Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and for enrolment of patients into ongoing therapeutic clinical trials. The 'genetic testing first' approach has now become the norm in most centers. Nonetheless, muscle biopsy-based testing still has an important role to play, especially for cases where genetic testing is negative or inconclusive for the etiology.
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spelling doaj.art-2acf9fb043874c1ca73d3ab5ce3de26d2022-12-22T02:46:49ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology0377-49292022-01-0165525927010.4103/ijpm.ijpm_1074_21Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An updateDeepti NarasimhaiahMegha S UppinPrajnya RanganathMuscular dystrophies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders involving the skeletal muscles. They have a progressive clinical course and are characterized by muscle fiber degeneration. Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) include dystroglycanopathies, merosin-deficient CMD, collagen VI-deficient CMD, SELENON-related rigid spine muscular dystrophy, and LMNA-related CMD. Childhood and adult-onset muscular dystrophies include dystrophinopathies, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy. Traditionally, muscle biopsy and histopathology along with special pathology techniques such as immunohistochemistry or immunoblotting were used for the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies. However, recent advances in molecular genetic testing, especially the next-generation sequencing technology, have revolutionized the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies. Identification of the underlying genetic basis helps in appropriate management and prognostication of the affected individual and genetic counseling of the family. In addition, identification of the exact disease-causing mutations is necessary for accurate prenatal genetic testing and carrier testing, to prevent recurrence in the family. Mutation identification is also essential for initiating mutation-specific therapies (which have been developed recently, especially for Duchenne muscular dystrophy) and for enrolment of patients into ongoing therapeutic clinical trials. The 'genetic testing first' approach has now become the norm in most centers. Nonetheless, muscle biopsy-based testing still has an important role to play, especially for cases where genetic testing is negative or inconclusive for the etiology.http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2022;volume=65;issue=5;spage=259;epage=270;aulast=Narasimhaiahmolecular genetic testingmuscle biopsymuscular dystrophynext-generation sequencing technology
spellingShingle Deepti Narasimhaiah
Megha S Uppin
Prajnya Ranganath
Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
molecular genetic testing
muscle biopsy
muscular dystrophy
next-generation sequencing technology
title Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
title_full Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
title_fullStr Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
title_full_unstemmed Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
title_short Genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies: An update
title_sort genetics and muscle pathology in the diagnosis of muscular dystrophies an update
topic molecular genetic testing
muscle biopsy
muscular dystrophy
next-generation sequencing technology
url http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2022;volume=65;issue=5;spage=259;epage=270;aulast=Narasimhaiah
work_keys_str_mv AT deeptinarasimhaiah geneticsandmusclepathologyinthediagnosisofmusculardystrophiesanupdate
AT meghasuppin geneticsandmusclepathologyinthediagnosisofmusculardystrophiesanupdate
AT prajnyaranganath geneticsandmusclepathologyinthediagnosisofmusculardystrophiesanupdate