Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1: a multicenter retrospective study

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is a rare autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive motor and respiratory decline during the first year of life. Early and late-onset cases have recently been reported, although not meeting the established diagnostic criteria, these cases have been genotyped.

A group of French pediatricians thus conducted a national multicenter observational retrospective study to determine the prognosis of children with SMARD1 according to their phenotype. They recorded all known French pediatric cases with mutations identified on the immunoglobulin μ-binding protein 2 gene and the presence of respiratory symptoms. Thirty centers provided 22 observations. A diaphragmatic palsy was diagnosed 1.5 months (p = 0.02) after first respiratory symptoms, and hypotonia preceded areflexia by 4 months (p = 0.02). Early onset of symptoms leading to specialist consultation before the age of 3 months was associated with a significantly worse prognosis (p < 0.01). Among the 6 patients who were still alive, all were tracheostomized. Only one case survived beyond 2 years without artificial ventilation. The remaining patients died at a median age of 7 months.

These results may help pediatricians to provide medical information to parents and improve the decision-making process of setting up life support.


Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1: A multicenter retrospective study. Viguier A, Lauwers-Cances V, Cintas P, Manel V, Peudenier S, Desguerre I, Quijano-Roy S, Vanhulle C, Fradin M, Isapof A, Jokic M, Mathieu-Dramard M, Dieterich K, Petit F, Magdelaine C, Giuliano F, Gras D, Haye D, Nizon M, Magen M, Bieth E, Cances C. Neuromuscul Disord. 2018 Oct 31