Identification of Predictors of Cardiac Arrhythmias and Sudden Death in Pediatric Patients Affected With Laminopathies

The LMNA related muscular dystrophies are monogenic progressive neuromuscular disorders. Affected pediatric patients can present at birth or in childhood and are classified as either congenital muscular dystrophy (LMNA-CMD), congenital onset Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1B (LGMD1B) or childhood onset Emery Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). These distinct clinical presentations all involve variants in the LMNA gene and can be distinguished by method of inheritance. Those with LMNA-CMD have new mutations in the LMNA gene not carried by either parent, while those with LGMD1B and EDMD will have a parent who may or not have symptoms with the same variant (change in the LMNA gene). There is no current cure or treatment for LMNA-MD.

While heart involvement has been studied for the adult forms of LMNA muscular dystrophy. These studies have identified an increased risk for arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), conduction defects, cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death. To date there has been no study evaluating the age of onset of heart involvement, the type of heart involvement, the rate of heart disease progression and the risk of sudden cardiac death in children affected with LMNA-MD. The investigators' research aims to evaluate heart involvement in children and teens affected by LMNA-MD.

This is a prospective interventional natural history study. The intervention consists of 3 steps: 1) High complexity echocardiography, 2) Electrophysiological Study, 3) subcutaneous ECG holter monitor implantation.

The duration of the active protocol will last 3 years. Potential subjects will be identified through the Spanish muscular dystrophy network and the Congenital Muscle Disease International Registry. The study will involve one on-site visit at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona, Spain; and a yearly follow-up that will be arrange individually (either a second visit to Barcelona or doctors will travel to see the patient).

At Visit 1, subjects will have their baseline assessments, including an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram, a electrophysiological study and medication review and the subcutaneous ECG holter monitor implantation.