Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Delivery of CRISPR for Cardiac Gene Editing in Mice
Published on: August 2, 2018
Dystrophin-Deficient Cardiomyopathy Due to a Novel Hemizygous DMD Indel Variant
Kathryn Albrecht1, Tauben Averbuch2, Cathleen Huculak3
1Broderick Cardiomyopathy Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Insights
Dystrophin variants cause varied muscle and heart conditions. Functional testing alongside clinical data is crucial for accurately diagnosing cardiomyopathy and identifying disease-causing gene variants for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Genetics
- Neuromuscular Disorders
Background:
- Dystrophin gene variants are linked to a spectrum of conditions, from isolated cardiomyopathy to severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- Phenotypic diversity arises from different dystrophin alterations, impacting muscle function and integrity.
Background:
Variants of dystrophin can lead to diverse phenotypes, ranging from isolated cardiomyopathy to aggressive Duchenne muscular dystrophy with progressive skeletal muscle weakness.
Case Summary:
We present a case of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyopathy in a 36-year-old man who presented in cardiogenic shock due to severe dilated cardiomyopathy requiring a bridge-to-transplant left ventricular assist device Genetic testing identified a DMD c.4857_4859del variant of uncertain significance. After heart transplantation, immunohistochemistry of the explanted heart revealed markedly reduced dystrophin staining, suggesting that the variant is disease-causing. Cascade testing identified multiple family members who were affected.
Discussion:
This case report underscores the importance of synthesizing the clinical phenotype with functional testing to classify cardiomyopathy gene variants accurately.
Take-Home Message:
Periodic review of variants of uncertain significance is critical to enable early diagnosis, treatment, and family screening.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

