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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
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Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Dysphagia is present but mild in myotonic dystrophy type 2
A A Tieleman1, S Knuijt, J van Vliet
1Neuromuscular Center Nijmegen, Department of Neurology, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.tieleman@neuro.umcn.nl
Neuromuscular Disorders : NMD
|January 27, 2009
Summary
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) patients frequently experience dysphagia, difficulty swallowing solid food. While generally mild and not causing weight loss or aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia severity increases with age in DM2 patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) shares similarities with DM1, but dysphagia, common in DM1, is understudied in DM2.
- A prior survey indicated swallowing difficulties in DM2 patients, necessitating further investigation.
Observation:
- This study examined swallowing function in DM2 patients reporting difficulty swallowing solid food.
- Evaluations included clinical assessment by a speech therapist and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) by an otorhinolaryngologist.
Findings:
- Dysphagia was confirmed in 100% of clinically assessed DM2 patients and 88% by FEES.
- A correlation was found between the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Score (DOSS) and patient age (p=0.05).
- No patients were underweight or had a history of aspiration pneumonia.
Implications:
- Dysphagia is a prevalent symptom in DM2, particularly in older individuals.
- Despite its presence, dysphagia in DM2 is typically mild and does not lead to significant complications like weight loss or aspiration pneumonia.
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