Severe neonatal nemaline myopathy--histological and histochemical studies of respiratory muscles

The histological and histochemical findings in the respiratory muscles of a patient with severe neonatal nemaline myopathy are described. The patient suffered from frequent pneumonia associated with vomiting due to gastroesophageal reflux and died at 3 months from respiratory failure. The diaphragm was moderately involved and the intercostal muscles mildly involved. Core/targetoid structures were observed in the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.