13 Oct 2014
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Evidence-based guideline summary: Diagnosis and treatment of limb-girdle and distal dystrophies
Authors:
Pushpa Narayanaswami, Michael Weiss, Duygu Selcen, William David, Elizabeth Raynor, Gregory Carter, Matthew Wicklund, Richard J. Barohn, Erik Ensrud, Robert C. Griggs, Gary Gronseth and Anthony A. Amato
Objective:
To review the current evidence and make practice recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs).
Methods:
Systematic review and practice recommendation development using the American Academy of Neurology guideline development process.
Results:
Most LGMDs are rare, with estimated prevalences ranging from 0.07 per 100,000 to 0.43 per 100,000. The frequency of some muscular dystrophies varies based on the ethnic background of the population studied. Some LGMD subtypes have distinguishing features, including pattern of muscle involvement, cardiac abnormalities, extramuscular involvement, and muscle biopsy findings. The few published therapeutic trials were not designed to establish clinical efficacy of any treatment.