Rare abnormality of pyramidal tract and oligospermia as a presenting sign of nemaline myopathies: A case report
Nemaline myopathies constitute a significant portion of congenital or structural myopathies. It is characterized by typically non-progressive or slowly progressive generalized muscle weakness. However, abnormalities of the pyramidal tract are uncommon. To investigate the relevant clinical, pathological, and genetic characteristics, we gathered clinical data from a patient with nemaline myopathy with motor neuron disease and oligospermia, which were confirmed by muscle pathology examination and gene sequencing. This report describes a 35-year-old Chinese male who had been experiencing limb weakness, primarily in the lower limbs, since childhood. He occasionally stumbled while walking, faced difficulties climbing stairs and mountains, exhibited poorer walking and running abilities compared to his peers, and easily felt fatigued, though relieved after resting. Oligospermia was diagnosed in adulthood. He was initially diagnosed with motor neuron disease, most likely Kennedy disease. Nemaline myopathy was definitively diagnosed through muscle pathology examination and gene sequencing conducted at our institution. This case report underscores the importance of considering a diagnosis of nemaline myopathy in cases where pyramidal tract damage and oligospermia, though exceedingly rare, coexist.
- Shy GM, Engel WK, Somers JE, Wanko T. Nemaline myopathy. A new congenital myopathy. Brain. 1963; 86(4):793-810. doi: 10.1093/brain/86.4.793
- Yin X, Pu C, Wang Z, Li K, Wang H. Clinico-pathological features and mutational spectrum of 16 nemaline myopathy patients from a Chinese neuromuscular center. Acta Neurol Belg. 2022;122(3):631-639. doi: 10.1007/s13760-020-01542-9
- Chu M, Gregorio CC, Pappas CT. Nebulin, a multi-functional giant. J Exp Biol. 2016;219(2):146-152. doi: 10.1242/jeb.126383
- Conen PE, Murphy EG, Donohue WL. Light and electron microscopic studies of “myogranules” in child with hypotonia and muscle weakness. Can Med Assoc. 1963;89:983-986.
- Tian L, Ding S, You Y, et al. Leiomodin-3-deficient mice display nemaline myopathy with fast-myofiber atrophy. Dis Model Mech. 2015;8:635-641. doi: 10.1242/dmm.019430
- Moreno CA, Artilheiro MC, Fonseca AT, et al. Clinical manifestation of nebulin-associated nemaline myopathy. Neurol Genet. 2023;9(1):e200056. doi: 10.1212/NXG.0000000000200056
- Kirupaharan P, Kramer D, Gandler A, Kenyon L, Summer R. 68-year old man with progressive weakness and ventilator dependent respiratory failure: A case report of sporadic late onset nemaline myopathy. BMC Pulm Med. 2022;22:97-102. doi: 10.1186/s12890-022-01877-4
- Lindqvist J, Ma W, Li F, et al. Triggering typical nemaline myopathy with compound heterozygous nebulin mutations reveals myofilament structural changes as pathomechanism. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):2699. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16526-9
- Wen Q, Chang X, Guo J. A childhoodonset nemaline myopathy caused by novel heterozygote variants in the nebulin gene with literature review. Acta Neurol Belg. 2020;120:1351-1360. doi: 10.1007/s13760-019-01230-3
- Wallgren-Pettersson C, Lehtokari VL, Kalimo H. Distal myopathy caused by homozygous missense mutations in the nebulin gene. Brain. 2007;130:1465-1476. doi: 10.1093/brain/awm094
- Sztal TE, McKaige EA, Williams C, Ruparelia AA, Bryson- Richardson RJ. Genetic compensation triggered by actin mutation prevents the muscle damage caused by loss of actin protein. PLOS Genet. 2018;14(2):e1007212. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007212