Encyclopedia
Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) is an inherited disease that affects muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles) and muscles that are needed for breathing (respiratory muscles).
- genetic conditions
1. Introduction
The major signs and symptoms of HMERF usually appear in adulthood, often in the mid-thirties. Among the earliest signs of the condition are breathing problems and difficulty walking. Weakness of the respiratory muscles, particularly the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the organs in the abdomen from those in the chest), causes breathing problems. This weakness worsens over time and can lead to life-threatening respiratory failure. Some affected individuals have weakness of muscles of the lower leg and foot, which makes it difficult to lift the toes while walking, a condition known as foot drop. Other muscles that become weak in people with HMERF include those of the hips, thighs, upper arms, and neck.
When viewed under a microscope, muscle fibers from affected individuals contain abnormal structures called cytoplasmic bodies. In many cases, the cytoplasmic bodies are arranged side-by-side in a ring inside the muscle fiber, resembling a necklace (necklace cytoplasmic bodies).
2. Frequency
HMERF is a rare condition with an unknown prevalence. It has been found in populations worldwide.
3. Causes
HMERF is caused by mutations in the TTN gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein called titin. Titin plays an important role in muscles the body uses for movement (skeletal muscles) and in heart (cardiac) muscle.
Within muscle cells, titin is an essential component of structures called sarcomeres. Sarcomeres are the basic units of muscle contraction; they are made of proteins that generate the mechanical force needed for muscles to contract. Titin has several functions within sarcomeres. One of its most important jobs is to act as a backbone in these structures, providing structure, flexibility, and stability. Titin also plays a role in chemical signaling and in assembling new sarcomeres.
The TTN gene mutations responsible for HMERF lead to the production of an altered version of the titin protein that cannot fold into its normal 3-dimensional shape. Researchers are studying how abnormally folded titin contributes to the muscle damage that underlies the signs and symptoms of HMERF. It is unclear why these effects are usually limited to skeletal muscles and respiratory muscles, and do not involve cardiac muscle.
Rarely, people with the characteristic features of HMERF do not have identified mutations in the TTN gene. In these cases, the genetic cause of the condition is unknown.
4. Inheritance
HMERF is typically inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered TTN gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. An affected person usually has one parent with the condition.
In rare cases, a specific mutation in one copy of the TTN gene leads to mild signs and symptoms of the condition, such as respiratory problems that begin later than is typical in HMERF with no other muscle weakness. However, family members who have the mutation in both copies of the gene have severe features of HMERF.
5. Other Names for This Condition
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Edstrom myopathy
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HMERF
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myopathy, proximal, with early respiratory muscle involvement
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/hereditary-myopathy-with-early-respiratory-failure
References
- Hedberg C, Toledo AG, Gustafsson CM, Larson G, Oldfors A, Macao B. Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure is associated with misfolding of thetitin fibronectin III 119 subdomain. Neuromuscul Disord. 2014 May;24(5):373-9.doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2014.02.003.
- Palmio J, Evilä A, Chapon F, Tasca G, Xiang F, Brådvik B, Eymard B,Echaniz-Laguna A, Laporte J, Kärppä M, Mahjneh I, Quinlivan R, Laforêt P, Damian M, Berardo A, Taratuto AL, Bueri JA, Tommiska J, Raivio T, Tuerk M, Gölitz P,Chevessier F, Sewry C, Norwood F, Hedberg C, Schröder R, Edström L, Oldfors A,Hackman P, Udd B. Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure: occurrence in various populations. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2014 Mar;85(3):345-53.doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2013-304965.
- Tasca G, Mirabella M, Broccolini A, Monforte M, Sabatelli M, Biscione GL,Piluso G, Gualandi F, Tonali PA, Udd B, Ricci E. An Italian case of hereditarymyopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) not associated with the titinkinase domain R279W mutation. Neuromuscul Disord. 2010 Nov;20(11):730-4. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2010.07.269.
- Tasca G, Udd B. Hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF):Still rare, but common enough. Neuromuscul Disord. 2018 Mar;28(3):268-276. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2017.12.002.
- Toro C, Olivé M, Dalakas MC, Sivakumar K, Bilbao JM, Tyndel F, Vidal N,Farrero E, Sambuughin N, Goldfarb LG. Exome sequencing identifies titin mutationscausing hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) in families ofdiverse ethnic origins. BMC Neurol. 2013 Mar 20;13:29. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-13-29.
- Uruha A, Hayashi YK, Oya Y, Mori-Yoshimura M, Kanai M, Murata M, Kawamura M,Ogata K, Matsumura T, Suzuki S, Takahashi Y, Kondo T, Kawarabayashi T, Ishii Y,Kokubun N, Yokoi S, Yasuda R, Kira J, Mitsuhashi S, Noguchi S, Nonaka I, Nishino I. Necklace cytoplasmic bodies in hereditary myopathy with early respiratoryfailure. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2015 May;86(5):483-9. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2014-309009.
