LGMD: A Group of Neuromuscular Diseases with Many Subtypes

LGMD

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a group of distinct diseases that cause weakness and wasting of the muscles, generally starting with the muscles around the hips and shoulders and eventually progressing to the arms and legs. However, some subtypes start distally at the leg or arm muscles and then progress to the hip and shoulder muscles. LGMD can be caused by a single gene defect that affects specific proteins within the muscle cell, including those responsible for keeping the muscle membrane intact.

Symptoms may appear at any age, depending on the type of LGMD, and in some subtypes tend to progress faster in younger patients. Individuals may have trouble getting out of chairs or climbing stairs. Eventually, they may need a wheelchair to get around. Some forms of the disease lead to heart and breathing problems and early death.  

Taking into account the various subtypes, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy has a global prevalence of approximately 1.63 per 100,000 individuals worldwide. Over 30 subtypes exist, and both genders are affected equally.

Genetic Testing: Know Your LGMD Subtype

Given the complexity of the various types of the LGMDs, genetic testing plays a critical role in diagnosing which subtype you may have. In some cases, additional specialized genetic testing may be necessary to identify your subtype. A doctor can identify the appropriate test and help patients understand the results. Speak with your health care provider to understand your options for genetic testing.

An Introduction to Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophies and Gene Therapy

Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D, our Senior Vice President, Gene Therapy is renowned for her work in molecular genetics and gene therapy. Her pioneering research is the foundation for five of our investigational limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) programs. Hear from Dr. Rodino-Klapac about LGMD, the importance of knowing your subtype and the basics of gene therapy.  

Resources

Patient Advocacy Groups

The groups below represent a few of the organizations that help connect patients and families to education, research, support services, and the broader muscular dystrophy community.

Muscular dystrophy resources:

Additional Resources: