Pathology and diagnosis of muscular dystrophies

Limb girdle muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of muscle disorders predominantly affecting the pelvic and shoulder girdles. They have been classified into autosomal recessive and dominant forms, the former being by far the commonest. Genetic analyses have led to the description of 14 recessive forms and 7 dominant. In four of the dominant forms the chromosomal loci have been localised but the gene and the protein have not been yet identified. The genes and proteins in these subgroups are localised over a wide range across the muscle fiber and at the extracellular matrix. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analyses of the proteins involved in the various forms of muscular dystrophies, have permitted a refined pathological approach, necessary to conduct genetic studies and to offer an appropriate genetic counseling. The application of molecular medicine in genetic muscular dystrophies also brings great expectations to the therapeutic management of these patients.