Spinal muscular atrophy: some easy clues to diagnosis

Seven cases of benign form of spinal muscular atrophy were studied to evaluate the importance of detecting hand tremors, muscle fasciculation, evertion of foot and ECG tremors to distinguish these cases from muscular dystrophy. Taken in combination, diagnosis of all the seven cases was possible without the need for application of more sophisticated and invasive investigations, e.g., EMG, nerve conduction study, CPK levels and muscle biopsy.