Why Craniofacial Surgeons/Researchers Need to be Aware of Native American Myopathy?

Congenital myopathy type 13 (CMYO13), also known as Native American myopathy, is a rare muscle disease characterized by early-onset hypotonia, muscle weakness, delayed motor milestones, and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. The phenotypic spectrum of congenital myopathy type 13 is expanding, with milder forms reported in non-native American patients. The first description of the disease dates to 1987 when Bailey and Bloch described an infant belonging to a Native American tribe with cleft palate, micrognathia, arthrogryposis, and general-anesthesia-induced malignant hyperthermia reaction; the cause of the latter remains poorly defined in this rare disease. The pan-ethnic distribution, as well as its predisposition to malignant hyperthermia, makes the identification of CMYO13 essential to avoid life-threatening, anesthesia-related complications. In this article, we are going to review the clinical phenotype of this disease and the pathophysiology of this rare disease with a focus on two unique features of the disease, namely cleft palate and malignant hyperthermia. We also highlight the importance of recognizing this disease's expanding phenotypic spectrum-including its susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia-and providing appropriate care to affected individuals and families.