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Myotonia congenita and myotonic dystrophy: Descriptive epidemiological investigation in Turin, Italy (1955–1979)

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Abstract

A descriptive epidemiological survey of Myotonia Congenita (MC) and Myotonic Dystrophy (MD) was carried out on the resident population of the City of Turin, Italy. Cases were collected from the Archives of the Neurological Clinic, University of Turin, and from other neurological departments in the city's hospitals. Every patient (and the “healthy” relatives of MD subjects) underwent clinical and EMG re-examination, in order to confirm the initial diagnosis and to investigate the familial distribution of the diseases. The point prevalence rate was 0.9 (±0.6)×10 −5 for MC and 2.1 (±0.8)×10−5 for MD. During the period 1955–1979 the mean annual incidence was 0.3 (±0.2)×10−6 for MC and 0.7 (±0.3)×10−6 for MD. The incidence-at-birth rate was 1.4 (±1.2)×10−5 for MC and 2.9 (±1.8)×10−5 for MD. The modalities of inheritance and sex distribution of MC and MD were also studied. Knowledge of epidemiological features of these myopathies is of vital importance for genetic counselling.

Sommario

È stata condotta un'indagine epidemiologica descrittiva circa la distribuzione della Miotonia Congenita e della Distrofia Miotonica nella popolazione residente nella Città di Torino, Italia (1.160.86 residenti il 31 Dicembre 1979). I casi sono stati dapprima individuati usufruendo degli Archivi della Clinica Neurologica dell' Università di Torino e delle Divisioni Neurologiche Ospedaliere della città. Ogni paziente ed i parenti dei soggetti affetti da Distrofia Miotonica sono stati quindi sottoposti ad un nuovo esame clinico ed elettromiografico allo scopo di confermare la diagnosi iniziale e di ac. delle malattie. Il tasso di prevalenza risultato 0.9 (±0.6)×10 −5per la Miotonia Congenita, e 2.1 (±0.8)×10−5 per la Distrofia Miotonica. Nel periodo 1955–1979, il tasso di incidenza media annuale era pari a 0.3 (±0.2)× 10−6 per la Miotonia Congenita, ed a 0.7 (±0.3)×10−6per la Distrofia Miotonica. Il tasso di incidenza alla nascita era di 1.4 (±1.2)×10−5 per la prima e di 2.9 (±1.8)×10−5 per la seconda delle miopatie studiate. Sono state pure indagate le modalità di trasmissione genetica e la distribuzione rispetto al sesso delle due malattie.

La conoscenza dei caratteri epidemiologici di queste miopatie è di primaria importanza in vista di un approccio eugenetico.

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Pinessi, L., Bergamini, L., Cantello, R. et al. Myotonia congenita and myotonic dystrophy: Descriptive epidemiological investigation in Turin, Italy (1955–1979). Ital J Neuro Sci 3, 207–210 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02043311

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