Sign Up for a Free Account
  • Updated 04.22.2024
  • Released 11.03.2006
  • Expires For CME 04.22.2027

Congenital myasthenic syndromes

Introduction

Overview

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are inherited disorders in which the safety margin of neuromuscular transmission is compromised by one or more specific mechanisms. Because they are relatively infrequent, they often go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Some congenital myasthenic syndromes can be diagnosed by clinical clues; others require special laboratory studies that define parameters of neuromuscular transmission and analyze the structure of the endplate. The genetic basis of more than 30 congenital myasthenic disorders has now been identified (108). Most congenital myasthenic syndromes are treatable, but therapy has to be tailored for the underlying molecular defect because therapies beneficial in some congenital myasthenic syndromes can be harmful in another type. This article provides an overview of the clinical aspects of the congenital myasthenic syndromes, describes their historical aspects and current classification, summarizes general and specific features of the different disorders, and considers their pathophysiology, pathogenesis, and prognosis.

Key points

• The congenital myasthenic syndromes are not uncommon but are commonly misdiagnosed.

• Identification of the clinical, physiologic, and molecular features of the congenital myasthenic syndromes is relevant to diagnosis, prevention, and therapy.

• To date, no fewer than 30 genetically distinct congenital myasthenic syndromes have been recognized. In the Mayo cohort of congenital myasthenic syndromes patients, molecular defects in AChR subunits, rapsyn, ColQ, Dok7, and ChAT account for 51%, 15%, 13%, 10%, and 5%, or a total of 93% of the congenital myasthenic syndromes.

• Cholinergic agonists benefit the congenital myasthenic syndromes caused by low-expressor and fast-channel mutations in AChR subunits, rapsyn, choline acetyltransferase, and glutamine-fructose-6- phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) and are of variable benefit in congenital myasthenic syndromes caused by mutations in DPAGT1.

• Cholinergic agonists can also improve the myasthenic features associated with some congenital myopathies.

• The slow-channel syndrome responds to the long-lived open-channel blockers of AChR, like fluoxetine, quinine, or quinidine.

• The congenital myasthenic syndromes caused by defects in Dok7, LRP4, and ColQ respond to ephedrine or albuterol. Albuterol is also beneficial as an adjuvant to cholinergic agonists in congenital myasthenic syndromes caused by defects in rapsyn and by low-expressor mutations in AChR subunits.

• Because medications that benefit one type of syndrome can worsen another type, a correct genetic diagnosis is essential before treatment is initiated.

• Most congenital myasthenic syndrome disease proteins reside in the nerve terminal, the synaptic space, or in the postsynaptic region, but some are also expressed in the central nervous system and other tissues.

Historical note and terminology

The congenital myasthenic syndromes were described as early as 1937 (126) but received little attention until after the autoimmune origin of acquired myasthenia gravis was discovered. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, three different syndromes were delineated by clinical, electromyographic, conventional microelectrode, cytochemical, and ultrastructural criteria: congenital endplate acetylcholinesterase deficiency (40), the slow-channel myasthenic syndrome (41), and a disorder attributed to reduced synthesis or vesicular packaging of acetylcholine (39; 89). From the early 1990s, single-channel recordings have been used to analyze the kinetic properties of AChR channels at intercostal muscle endplates of patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome (86). The data derived from a combination of the above studies enabled the candidate gene approach and led to discovery of mutations in endplate associated proteins, namely mutations in AChR that cause slow- and fast-channel syndromes or endplate AChR deficiency; in ColQ that result in endplate acetylcholinesterase deficiency; in choline acetyltransferase that impair ACh synthesis and cause frequent episodes of apnea; in rapsyn that impair anchoring of AChR in the postsynaptic membrane; and in Nav1.4, the voltage-gated sodium channel of skeletal muscle, that inhibit generation of the muscle action potential (45; 47).

Between 2005 and 2011, congenital myasthenic syndrome mutations were also observed in MuSK, which is required for postsynaptic development (27); in Dok-7 (14), a muscle intrinsic activator of MuSK required for maintaining the structural integrity of the neuromuscular junction (134); in agrin (64), an activator of LRP4; in laminin beta2 that alters the endplate geometry (79); in plectin, an intermediate filament linker essential for cytoskeletal support (133); and in GFPT1 (138).

Since 2012, an increasing number of congenital myasthenic syndrome disease genes and proteins were identified with easier access to the whole-exome and genome sequencing (150). The identified disease proteins include SNAP25B (144), synaptotagmin 2 (60; 157), Munc13-1 (46), and synaptobrevin-1 (129), all essential for synaptic vesicle exocytosis; DPAGT1 (15), ALG2, ALG14 (31), and GMPPB (16); LRP4 (102; 135); Myosin 9A (99); collagen 13A1 (73); the mitochondrial citrate carrier (26); PREPL (121); the vesicular ACh transporter (101); the high-affinity presynaptic choline transporter (11; 05); laminin 5A (77); and agrin (78; 96; 103; 155).

This is an article preview.
Start a Free Account
to access the full version.

  • Nearly 3,000 illustrations, including video clips of neurologic disorders.

  • Every article is reviewed by our esteemed Editorial Board for accuracy and currency.

  • Full spectrum of neurology in 1,200 comprehensive articles.

  • Listen to MedLink on the go with Audio versions of each article.

Questions or Comment?

MedLink®, LLC

3525 Del Mar Heights Rd, Ste 304
San Diego, CA 92130-2122

Toll Free (U.S. + Canada): 800-452-2400

US Number: +1-619-640-4660

Support: service@medlink.com

Editor: editor@medlink.com

ISSN: 2831-9125