Challenging Diagnosis of a Patient with Two Novel Variants in the SYNE1 Gene

We report a case of SYNE1-associated autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia (SCAR8) presenting with a complex multisystemic phenotype, including highly elevated creatine kinase levels and lower-leg muscle atrophy. In addition to identifying two novel pathogenic variants in the SYNE1 gene, whole-exome sequencing revealed three variants of uncertain significance in the DYSF gene. Electromyography and muscle magnetic resonance imaging indicated a neurogenic pattern of muscle involvement. These findings, along with the segregation analysis of the variants, allowed us to exclude DYSF-associated muscular dystrophy; however, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that the DYSF gene variants may act as modifiers of the patient's phenotype.