Over three decades of natural history of limb girdle muscular dystrophy type R1/2A and R2/2B: Mathematical modelling of a multifactorial study

Abstract

We aimed to describe the natural history of Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2A and 2B over more than three decades by considering muscular strength, motor, cardiac and respiratory function. 428 visits of nineteen 2A and twenty 2B patients were retrospectively analysed through a regression model to create the curves of evolution with disease duration of muscle strength (through Medical Research Council grading), motor function measure scale (D1, D2 and D3 domains) and cardio-pulmonary function tests. Clinically relevant muscular and motor function alterations occurred after the first decade of disease, while mild respiratory function alterations started after the second, with preserved cardiac function. Although type 2A showed relatively stronger distal lower limb muscles, while type 2B started with relatively stronger upper limb muscles, the corresponding motor functions were similar, becoming severely compromised after 25 years of disease. This was the longest retrospective study in types 2A and 2B. It defined curves of disease evolution not only from a neuromuscular, but also from functional, cardiac, and respiratory points of view, to be used to evaluate how the natural progression is changed by therapies. Due to slow disease progression, it was not possible to identify time sensitive endpoints.