Myelin abnormalities in merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy

Merosin is a protein complex located in the basement membrane of skeletal muscles and laminin α2-containing regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, because of the prominence of muscle-related symptoms, peripheral neuropathy associated with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A) has received little clinical attention. This study aimed to present pathological changes in intramuscular nerves of three patients with MDC1A and discuss their relationship with electrophysiological findings to provide new evidence of peripheral nerve involvement in MDC1A.

MDC1A was confirmed by clinical features, muscle biopsy, and genetic testing for variants in LAMA2. To clarify peripheral nerve involvement, we statistically evaluated electrophysiological and muscle pathology findings of intramuscular nerves. These findings were compared with those of age-matched boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) as controls with normal nerves. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed before biopsy. Biopsied intramuscular nerves were examined with electron microscopy using g-ratio, which is the ratio of axon diameter to myelinated fiber diameter.

The myelin sheaths were significantly thinner in MDC1A patients than in age-matched DMD patients, with a mean g-ratio of 0.76 ± 0.07 in MDC1A patients and 0.65 ± 0.14 in DMD patients (p < .0001). No neuropathic changes were identified in muscle pathology. Low compound muscle action potential amplitudes, positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials, and low-amplitude motor unit potentials with increased polyphasia indicated myopathic changes; no neurogenic changes were seen.

We postulate that the thin myelin associated with MDC1A reflects the role of merosin in myelin maturation.