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Myopathy, epilepsy, and progressive cerebral atrophy(MEPCA)

MedGen UID:
1759100
Concept ID:
C5436652
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: MEPCA; MYOPATHY, EPILEPSY, AND PROGRESSIVE CEREBRAL ATROPHY
 
Gene (location): ALG14 (1p21.3)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0033619
OMIM®: 619036

Definition

Myopathy, epilepsy, and progressive cerebral atrophy (MEPCA) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder with onset in utero or at birth. Affected individuals have hypotonia with respiratory or feeding difficulties apparent from birth and often associated with contractures of the large joints. There is little spontaneous movement: skeletal muscle biopsy and electrophysiologic studies are consistent with a myopathy or myasthenic disorder. Patients also develop refractory seizures with burst-suppression pattern or hypsarrhythmia on EEG. Brain imaging shows progressive cerebral atrophy and myelination defects. All patients reported to date died within the first year of life (summary by Schorling et al., 2017). [from OMIM]

Clinical features

From HPO
Arachnodactyly
MedGen UID:
2047
Concept ID:
C0003706
Congenital Abnormality
Abnormally long and slender fingers ("spider fingers").
Clubfoot
MedGen UID:
3130
Concept ID:
C0009081
Congenital Abnormality
Clubfoot is a congenital limb deformity defined as fixation of the foot in cavus, adductus, varus, and equinus (i.e., inclined inwards, axially rotated outwards, and pointing downwards) with concomitant soft tissue abnormalities (Cardy et al., 2007). Clubfoot may occur in isolation or as part of a syndrome (e.g., diastrophic dysplasia, 222600). Clubfoot has been reported with deficiency of long bones and mirror-image polydactyly (Gurnett et al., 2008; Klopocki et al., 2012).
Feeding difficulties in infancy
MedGen UID:
436211
Concept ID:
C2674608
Finding
Impaired feeding performance of an infant as manifested by difficulties such as weak and ineffective sucking, brief bursts of sucking, and falling asleep during sucking. There may be difficulties with chewing or maintaining attention.
Cerebral atrophy
MedGen UID:
116012
Concept ID:
C0235946
Disease or Syndrome
Atrophy (wasting, decrease in size of cells or tissue) affecting the cerebrum.
Hypsarrhythmia
MedGen UID:
195766
Concept ID:
C0684276
Finding
Hypsarrhythmia is abnormal interictal high amplitude waves and a background of irregular spikes. There is continuous (during wakefulness), high-amplitude (>200 Hz), generalized polymorphic slowing with no organized background and multifocal spikes demonstrated by electroencephalography (EEG).
EEG with burst suppression
MedGen UID:
369943
Concept ID:
C1969156
Finding
The burst suppression pattern in electroencephalography refers to a characteristic periodic pattern of low voltage (<10 microvolts) suppressed background and a relatively shorter pattern of higher amplitude slow, sharp, and spiking complexes.
Delayed CNS myelination
MedGen UID:
867393
Concept ID:
C4021758
Anatomical Abnormality
Delayed myelination in the central nervous system.
Micrognathia
MedGen UID:
44428
Concept ID:
C0025990
Congenital Abnormality
Developmental hypoplasia of the mandible.
Isolated scaphocephaly
MedGen UID:
82712
Concept ID:
C0265534
Congenital Abnormality
Scaphocephaly is a subtype of dolichocephaly where the anterior and posterior aspects of the cranial vault are pointed (boat-shaped). Scaphocephaly is caused by a precocious fusion of sagittal suture without other associated synostosis.
Congenital contracture
MedGen UID:
83066
Concept ID:
C0332878
Congenital Abnormality
One or more flexion contractures (a bent joint that cannot be straightened actively or passively) that are present at birth.
Severe muscular hypotonia
MedGen UID:
326544
Concept ID:
C1839630
Finding
A severe degree of muscular hypotonia characterized by markedly reduced muscle tone.
Type 2 muscle fiber atrophy
MedGen UID:
355249
Concept ID:
C1864580
Pathologic Function
Atrophy (wasting) affecting primary type 2 muscle fibers. This feature in general can only be observed on muscle biopsy.
Type 2 muscle fiber predominance
MedGen UID:
478817
Concept ID:
C3277187
Finding
An abnormal predominance of type II muscle fibers (in general, this feature can only be observed on muscle biopsy).
EMG: decremental response of compound muscle action potential to repetitive nerve stimulation
MedGen UID:
892749
Concept ID:
C4021728
Finding
A compound muscle action potential (CMAP) is a type of electromyography (EMG). CMAP refers to a group of almost simultaneous action potentials from several muscle fibers in the same area evoked by stimulation of the supplying motor nerve and are recorded as one multipeaked summated action potential. This abnormality refers to a greater than normal decrease in the amplitude during the course of the investigation.
Type 1 muscle fiber atrophy
MedGen UID:
868775
Concept ID:
C4023180
Disease or Syndrome
Atrophy (wasting) affecting primary type 1 muscle fibers. This feature in general can only be observed on muscle biopsy.
Turricephaly
MedGen UID:
1726910
Concept ID:
C5399823
Congenital Abnormality
Tall head relative to width and length.
Chylothorax
MedGen UID:
40305
Concept ID:
C0008733
Disease or Syndrome
Accumulation of excessive amounts of lymphatic fluid (chyle) in the pleural cavity.
Neonatal respiratory distress
MedGen UID:
924182
Concept ID:
C4281993
Finding
Respiratory difficulty as newborn.
Thymus hyperplasia
MedGen UID:
11809
Concept ID:
C0040115
Disease or Syndrome
Enlargement of the thymus.
Blepharophimosis
MedGen UID:
2670
Concept ID:
C0005744
Congenital Abnormality
A fixed reduction in the vertical distance between the upper and lower eyelids with short palpebral fissures.
Polyhydramnios
MedGen UID:
6936
Concept ID:
C0020224
Pathologic Function
The presence of excess amniotic fluid in the uterus during pregnancy.
Decreased fetal movement
MedGen UID:
68618
Concept ID:
C0235659
Finding
An abnormal reduction in quantity or strength of fetal movements.
Wide intermamillary distance
MedGen UID:
473489
Concept ID:
C1827524
Finding
A larger than usual distance between the left and right nipple.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Thajeb P, Dai D, Chiang MF, Shyu WC
Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2006 Sep;45(3):201-7. doi: 10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60225-4. PMID: 17175464
Geelen JM, Monnens LA, Levtchenko EN
Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002 Oct;17(10):1766-70. doi: 10.1093/ndt/17.10.1766. PMID: 12270982

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Liao NY, Lai KL, Liao YC, Hsiao CT, Lee YC
J Formos Med Assoc 2023 Oct;122(10):1028-1034. Epub 2023 Jun 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.05.031. PMID: 37311680
Ng YS, Lax NZ, Blain AP, Erskine D, Baker MR, Polvikoski T, Thomas RH, Morris CM, Lai M, Whittaker RG, Gebbels A, Winder A, Hall J, Feeney C, Farrugia ME, Hirst C, Roberts M, Lawthom C, Chrysostomou A, Murphy K, Baird T, Maddison P, Duncan C, Poulton J, Nesbitt V, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS, Taylor RW, Blakely EL, Schaefer AM, Turnbull DM, McFarland R, Gorman GS
Brain 2022 Apr 18;145(2):542-554. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab353. PMID: 34927673Free PMC Article
Chelban V, Alsagob M, Kloth K, Chirita-Emandi A, Vandrovcova J, Maroofian R, Davagnanam I, Bakhtiari S, AlSayed MD, Rahbeeni Z, AlZaidan H, Malintan NT, Johannsen J, Efthymiou S, Ghayoor Karimiani E, Mankad K, Al-Shahrani SA, Beiraghi Toosi M, AlShammari M, Groppa S, Haridy NA, AlQuait L, Qari A, Huma R, Salih MA, Almass R, Almutairi FB, Hamad MH, Alorainy IA, Ramzan K, Imtiaz F, Puiu M, Kruer MC, Bierhals T, Wood NW, Colak D, Houlden H, Kaya N
Eur J Neurol 2020 Feb;27(2):334-342. Epub 2019 Oct 17 doi: 10.1111/ene.14082. PMID: 31509304Free PMC Article
Chelban V, Patel N, Vandrovcova J, Zanetti MN, Lynch DS, Ryten M, Botía JA, Bello O, Tribollet E, Efthymiou S, Davagnanam I; SYNAPSE Study Group, Bashiri FA, Wood NW, Rothman JE, Alkuraya FS, Houlden H
Am J Hum Genet 2017 Jun 1;100(6):969-977. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.05.009. PMID: 28575651Free PMC Article
Zeviani M, Antozzi C
Brain Pathol 1992 Apr;2(2):121-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1992.tb00680.x. PMID: 1341953

Diagnosis

Liao NY, Lai KL, Liao YC, Hsiao CT, Lee YC
J Formos Med Assoc 2023 Oct;122(10):1028-1034. Epub 2023 Jun 11 doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2023.05.031. PMID: 37311680
Chelban V, Patel N, Vandrovcova J, Zanetti MN, Lynch DS, Ryten M, Botía JA, Bello O, Tribollet E, Efthymiou S, Davagnanam I; SYNAPSE Study Group, Bashiri FA, Wood NW, Rothman JE, Alkuraya FS, Houlden H
Am J Hum Genet 2017 Jun 1;100(6):969-977. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.05.009. PMID: 28575651Free PMC Article
Sakuma H
Brain Dev 2009 Aug;31(7):510-4. Epub 2009 Mar 26 doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2009.02.010. PMID: 19327924
Finsterer J
Eur J Neurol 2004 Mar;11(3):163-86. doi: 10.1046/j.1351-5101.2003.00728.x. PMID: 15009163
Zeviani M, Antozzi C
Brain Pathol 1992 Apr;2(2):121-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1992.tb00680.x. PMID: 1341953

Therapy

Pérez-Dueñas B, Sempere A, Campistol J, Alonso-Colmenero I, Díez M, González V, Merinero B, Desviat LR, Artuch R
Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2012 Jul;16(4):343-8. Epub 2011 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2011.08.008. PMID: 21903433
Sakuma H
Brain Dev 2009 Aug;31(7):510-4. Epub 2009 Mar 26 doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2009.02.010. PMID: 19327924
Mancuso M, Galli R, Pizzanelli C, Filosto M, Siciliano G, Murri L
J Neurol Sci 2006 Apr 15;243(1-2):97-9. Epub 2006 Jan 18 doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.11.021. PMID: 16414077
Striano P, Boccella P, Sarappa C, Striano S
Seizure 2004 Dec;13(8):582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2004.01.008. PMID: 15519918
Geelen JM, Monnens LA, Levtchenko EN
Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002 Oct;17(10):1766-70. doi: 10.1093/ndt/17.10.1766. PMID: 12270982

Prognosis

Ng YS, Lax NZ, Blain AP, Erskine D, Baker MR, Polvikoski T, Thomas RH, Morris CM, Lai M, Whittaker RG, Gebbels A, Winder A, Hall J, Feeney C, Farrugia ME, Hirst C, Roberts M, Lawthom C, Chrysostomou A, Murphy K, Baird T, Maddison P, Duncan C, Poulton J, Nesbitt V, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS, Taylor RW, Blakely EL, Schaefer AM, Turnbull DM, McFarland R, Gorman GS
Brain 2022 Apr 18;145(2):542-554. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab353. PMID: 34927673Free PMC Article
Van Bergen NJ, Guo Y, Al-Deri N, Lipatova Z, Stanga D, Zhao S, Murtazina R, Gyurkovska V, Pehlivan D, Mitani T, Gezdirici A, Antony J, Collins F, Willis MJH, Coban Akdemir ZH, Liu P, Punetha J, Hunter JV, Jhangiani SN, Fatih JM, Rosenfeld JA, Posey JE, Gibbs RA, Karaca E, Massey S, Ranasinghe TG, Sleiman P, Troedson C, Lupski JR, Sacher M, Segev N, Hakonarson H, Christodoulou J
Brain 2020 Jan 1;143(1):112-130. doi: 10.1093/brain/awz374. PMID: 31794024Free PMC Article
Chelban V, Alsagob M, Kloth K, Chirita-Emandi A, Vandrovcova J, Maroofian R, Davagnanam I, Bakhtiari S, AlSayed MD, Rahbeeni Z, AlZaidan H, Malintan NT, Johannsen J, Efthymiou S, Ghayoor Karimiani E, Mankad K, Al-Shahrani SA, Beiraghi Toosi M, AlShammari M, Groppa S, Haridy NA, AlQuait L, Qari A, Huma R, Salih MA, Almass R, Almutairi FB, Hamad MH, Alorainy IA, Ramzan K, Imtiaz F, Puiu M, Kruer MC, Bierhals T, Wood NW, Colak D, Houlden H, Kaya N
Eur J Neurol 2020 Feb;27(2):334-342. Epub 2019 Oct 17 doi: 10.1111/ene.14082. PMID: 31509304Free PMC Article
Finsterer J
Eur J Neurol 2004 Mar;11(3):163-86. doi: 10.1046/j.1351-5101.2003.00728.x. PMID: 15009163
Geelen JM, Monnens LA, Levtchenko EN
Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002 Oct;17(10):1766-70. doi: 10.1093/ndt/17.10.1766. PMID: 12270982

Clinical prediction guides

Ng YS, Lax NZ, Blain AP, Erskine D, Baker MR, Polvikoski T, Thomas RH, Morris CM, Lai M, Whittaker RG, Gebbels A, Winder A, Hall J, Feeney C, Farrugia ME, Hirst C, Roberts M, Lawthom C, Chrysostomou A, Murphy K, Baird T, Maddison P, Duncan C, Poulton J, Nesbitt V, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS, Taylor RW, Blakely EL, Schaefer AM, Turnbull DM, McFarland R, Gorman GS
Brain 2022 Apr 18;145(2):542-554. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab353. PMID: 34927673Free PMC Article
Van Bergen NJ, Guo Y, Al-Deri N, Lipatova Z, Stanga D, Zhao S, Murtazina R, Gyurkovska V, Pehlivan D, Mitani T, Gezdirici A, Antony J, Collins F, Willis MJH, Coban Akdemir ZH, Liu P, Punetha J, Hunter JV, Jhangiani SN, Fatih JM, Rosenfeld JA, Posey JE, Gibbs RA, Karaca E, Massey S, Ranasinghe TG, Sleiman P, Troedson C, Lupski JR, Sacher M, Segev N, Hakonarson H, Christodoulou J
Brain 2020 Jan 1;143(1):112-130. doi: 10.1093/brain/awz374. PMID: 31794024Free PMC Article
Alhaddad B, Schossig A, Haack TB, Kovács-Nagy R, Braunisch MC, Makowski C, Senderek J, Vill K, Müller-Felber W, Strom TM, Krabichler B, Freisinger P, Deshpande C, Polster T, Wolf NI, Desguerre I, Wörmann F, Rötig A, Ahting U, Kopajtich R, Prokisch H, Meitinger T, Feichtinger RG, Mayr JA, Jungbluth H, Hubmann M, Zschocke J, Distelmaier F, Koch J
Neuropediatrics 2018 Oct;49(5):330-338. Epub 2018 Jun 25 doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1661396. PMID: 29940663
Chelban V, Patel N, Vandrovcova J, Zanetti MN, Lynch DS, Ryten M, Botía JA, Bello O, Tribollet E, Efthymiou S, Davagnanam I; SYNAPSE Study Group, Bashiri FA, Wood NW, Rothman JE, Alkuraya FS, Houlden H
Am J Hum Genet 2017 Jun 1;100(6):969-977. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.05.009. PMID: 28575651Free PMC Article
Hayashi M
Neuropathology 2009 Feb;29(1):1-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2008.00888.x. PMID: 19154320

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