UNASSIGNED: The nondystrophic myotonias are rare muscle hyperexcitability disorders caused by gain-of-function mutations in the SCN4A gene or loss-of-function mutations in the CLCN1 gene. Clinically, they are characterized by myotonia, defined as delayed muscle relaxation after voluntary contraction, which leads to symptoms of muscle stiffness, pain, fatigue, and weakness. Diagnosis is based on history and examination findings, the presence of electrical myotonia on electromyography, and genetic confirmation.
UNASSIGNED: Next-generation sequencing including the CLCN1 and SCN4A genes was performed in patients with clinical neuromuscular disorders. Electromyography, Short Exercise Test, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, site-directed mutagenesis and heterologous expression were collected.
UNASSIGNED: A heterozygous point mutation (c.1775C > T, p.Thr592Ile) of muscle voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit gene (SCN4A) has been identified in five female patients over three generations, in a family with non-dystrophic myotonia. The muscle stiffness and myotonia involve mainly the face and hands, but also affect walking and running, appearing early after birth and presenting a clear cold sensitivity. Very hot temperatures, menstruation and pregnancy also exacerbate the symptoms; muscle pain and a warm-up phenomenon are variable features. Neither paralytic attacks nor post-exercise weakness has been reported. Muscle hypertrophy with cramp-like pain and increased stiffness developed during pregnancy. The symptoms were controlled with both mexiletine and acetazolamide. The Short Exercise Test after muscle cooling revealed two different patterns, with moderate absolute changes of compound muscle action potential amplitude.
UNASSIGNED: The p.Thr592Ile mutation in the SCN4A gene identified in this Sardinian family was responsible of clinical phenotype of myotonia.

Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis Type 2 (HOKPP2) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of muscle weakness, paralysis, and hypokalemia. In this case report, we present the clinical details of a 49-year-old female diagnosed with HOKPP2. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous mutation in the Sodium Voltage-Gated Channel Alpha Subunit 4 (SCN4A) gene, confirming the diagnosis of HOKPP2. Management strategies, including potassium supplementation and lifestyle modifications, were implemented, resulting in a significant decrease in the frequency of symptomatic episodes. This case highlights the importance of considering HOKPP2 in patients with recurrent muscle weakness, particularly those with a familial history of similar symptoms. Furthermore, it underscores the crucial role of genetic testing in guiding patient management and facilitating genetic counseling.

UNASSIGNED: Sodium channel myotonia (SCM) belongs to the group of sodium channelopathies with mutations involving SCN4A gene. The main feature of sodium channel myotonia is pure myotonia without episodes of weakness or paralysis. One of the sodium channel myotonia has been classified as acetazolamide-responsive myotonia because of the effectiveness of acetazolamide as an antimyotonic drug.
UNASSIGNED: The child presented with generalized muscle hypertrophy and stiffness involving arms, thighs, calves, chest, and back muscles with unusually prominent trapezius muscle. The parents described the warm-up phenomenon as an improvement in stiffness as the day passes and with repetitive action. Percussion myotonia was illustrated in the thenar eminence and trapezius muscle. Characteristic \'dive-bomber\' sound was present in electromyography, and whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel Ile239Thr mutation in the SCN4A gene. Acetazolamide was prescribed for the condition, and regular follow-up shows an excellent clinical response.
UNASSIGNED: This case presents a pure myotonic phenotype without episodes of weakness or paralysis. Generalized myotonia with muscle hypertrophy and demonstrating warm-up phenomenon resembles myotonia congenita (a chloride channelopathy). However, genetic analysis revealed a novel Ile239Thr mutation involving SCN4A gene indicating this case to be a sodium channelopathy.
UNASSIGNED: This case limelight sodium channel myotonia with a novel Ile239Thr mutation in SCN4A gene that phenotypically resembles myotonia congenita but genetically belongs to sodium channelopathy highlighting the poor correlation between genotypes and phenotypes in non-dystrophic myotonia. Acetazolamide can be a safe and cost-effective antimyotonic drug in sodium channel myotonia.

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by intermittent episodes of delayed paralysis of skeletal muscle with episodes of hypokalemia, caused by variants in CACNA1S or SCN4A genes, or secondary to thyrotoxicosis, Sjogren syndrome, primary aldosteronism, etc. HPP may be the only presentation in Andersen-Tawil syndrome in which the majority of cases are caused by pathogenic variants in the KCNJ2 gene. We present a case of a 29-year-old male with hypokalemic periodic paralysis. The patient began to experience recurrent weakness of the extremities at the age of 26, which was effectively treated with potassium supplementation. He had recently developed dry mouth, palpitations, weight loss, and even dyspnea, with a serum potassium level as low as 1.59 mmol/L. The results of auxiliary examinations showed Graves\' disease, and genetic testing indicated a missense variant, NM_000334.4 (SCN4A):c.3404G>A (p.R1135H). He did not experience periodic paralysis during follow-up after lifestyle guidance and treatment of thyrotoxicosis with radioactive iodine. It is a rare case of SCN4A p.R1135H gene variant combined with hyperthyroidism resulting in HPP with respiratory muscle paralysis to raise awareness of the disease and avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

Severe neonatal episodic laryngospasm (SNEL) is an ion channel disease characterized by recurrent life-threatening myotonia of respiratory muscle due to mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel genes. Here we reported a newborn manifested as paroxysmal cyanosis and limb myotonia after birth. The neonate also developed muscle hypertrophy and stunted growth during the follow-up. Whole exome sequencing confirmed c.2395G>A, p.Ala799Thr heterozygous mutation of SCN4A. Carbamazepine was found to be effective on treating the disease. This case expands our understanding of the phenotype resulting from SCN4Amutations. By summarizing the characteristics of reported 16 cases in SNEL,we found they were mainly in the p.G1306E mutation. The common symptoms were upper airway muscle stiffness and feeding difficulties during neonates.When grow up, most patients have different degrees of recurrent attacks of myotonia and progressed muscle hypertrophy. Some of them have athlete-like special faces but all showed myotonic discharge in eletromyogram.
严重新生儿发作性喉痉挛(severe neonatal episodic laryngospasm，SNEL)是一种离子通道病，该病因钠电压门控通道4亚基(sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 4 gene，SCN4A)基因突变导致反复发作性咽喉肌强直而危及新生儿生命。现报告1例在出生后出现阵发性发绀和四肢强直的新生儿病例，随访期间，患儿还出现四肢肌肥大和生长发育迟缓。全外显子测序证实该患儿存在SCN4A基因新型杂合突变(c.2395G>A, p.Ala799Thr)。卡马西平是治疗该病的有效药物。此病例扩展了我们对SCN4A基因突变表型的认识。总结已报道的16例SNEL病例特点，发现他们主要发生p.G1306E位点错义突变。相似症状表现为新生儿期上气道肌紧张和喂养困难，长大后多数患者表现为不同程度的发作性肌强直和进行性的肌肥大。一些患者出现“运动员”特征外貌，但几乎所有患者肌电图均有肌强直放电。.

Non-dystrophic myotonias and periodic paralyses are a heterogeneous group of disabling diseases classified as skeletal muscle channelopathies. Their genetic characterization is essential for prognostic and therapeutic purposes; however, several genes are involved. Sanger-based sequencing of a single gene is time-consuming, often expensive; thus, we designed a next-generation sequencing panel of 56 putative candidate genes for skeletal muscle channelopathies, codifying for proteins involved in excitability, excitation-contraction coupling, and metabolism of muscle fibres. We analyzed a large cohort of 109 Italian patients with a suspect of NDM or PP by next-generation sequencing. We identified 24 patients mutated in CLCN1 gene, 15 in SCN4A, 3 in both CLCN1 and SCN4A, 1 in ATP2A1, 1 in KCNA1 and 1 in CASQ1. Eight were novel mutations: p.G395Cfs*32, p.L843P, p.V829M, p.E258E and c.1471+4delTCAAGAC in CLCN1, p.K1302R in SCN4A, p.L208P in ATP2A1 and c.280-1G>C in CASQ1 genes. This study demonstrated the utility of targeted next generation sequencing approach in molecular diagnosis of skeletal muscle channelopathies and the importance of the collaboration between clinicians and molecular geneticists and additional methods for unclear variants to make a conclusive diagnosis.

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Objective: To report a Chinese family with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOKPP) and investigate the clinical and pathogenic gene characteristics of the family. Methods: The clinical, electrophysiological and pathological data of the proband of the family were analyzed, and the information of the family was investigated in detail. The peripheral venous blood of the six members of the family was collected and their genomic DNA was extracted. The genes related to periodic paralysis analysis of the proband were performed by the second generation sequencing. The pathogenicity of the mutant protein was respectively analyzed by the bioinformatics software SIFT, Polyphen2 and Mutation Tasker. The cosegregation analysis of phenotype and genotype of the family was performed by the first generation sequencing. Results: There were 3 patients in the family with the onset age of 21 to 42 years old. All the patients manifested with vomiting as the first symptoms, then presented with muscle weakness accompanied by muscle soreness. The muscle weakness gradually relieved in 3 to 5 days. Creatine kinase (CK) of the proband significantly increased. Electromyographic exercise test was positive, however, electromyography and muscle pathological analysis were normal. The genes related to periodic paralysis analysis of the proband found a novel mutation (c.2458A>T (p.N.820Y)) of SCN4A gene which was located in the conservative region. The function analysis showed it was a pathogenic mutation. Moreover, the first generation sequencing confirmed that the mutation was cosegregated with patients in the family. Meanwhile, it was found that the proband\'s son carried the same mutation, but without any symptom, indicating that he was a pre-symptomatic patient. Conclusions: Vomiting can be one of the symptoms of the patients with HOKPP. The novel mutation of SCN4A gene c.2458 A>T is the pathogenic mutation of the family. Patients with periodic paralysis should be tested for blood potassium and genes as early as possible to facilitate early diagnosis and genetic counseling.
目的： 报道一个中国人低钾性周期性瘫痪（HOKPP）家系，探讨该家系的临床及致病基因特点。 方法： 对该家系先证者的临床、电生理及病理资料进行分析，并对该家系进行详细的调查；采集该家系6名成员的外周静脉血并抽提其基因组DNA，采用二代测序技术对先证者进行周期性瘫痪相关基因检测，对所发现突变采用SIFT、PolyPhen 2及Mutation Taster软件进行突变蛋白功能的致病性分析；采用一代测序技术进行家系的表型和基因型共分离研究。 结果： 该家系3代患者3例，发病年龄21~42岁，主要表现为发作性四肢无力，以呕吐为首发症状，伴肌肉酸痛，持续3~5 d后缓解；先证者发作时肌酶明显升高，缓解后长时程运动诱发试验阳性，肌电图及肌肉病理未见异常；先证者周期性瘫痪相关基因二代测序发现SCN4A基因c.2458A>T（p.N820Y）新突变，该突变位于SCN4A蛋白保守区域，功能预测为致病性突变，一代测序验证该突变与家系内患者共分离，同时发现先证者儿子携带相同突变，目前尚未发病，为症状前患者。 结论： HOKPP患者可以呕吐为临床表现；SCN4A基因新突变c.2458A>T为该家系的致病突变；对伴有呕吐的周期性瘫痪患者尽早行血钾和基因检测，有助于早期诊治和遗传咨询。.

Objective: To investigate the clinical, myopathological and genetic mutation characteristics in two Chinese families with paramyotonia congenita (PMC). Methods: Clinical manifestations, electrophysiology, muscle pathology and gene sequencing of two Chinese families with PMC were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Family 1 involved 12 patients in 4 consecutive generations and family 2 involved only 1 patient in 3 generations. The onset of symptoms in all patients started at early childhood. Both probands presented with myotonia triggered by cold and paroxysmal weakness. However, the other 11 patients in family 1 only manifested cold-induced myotonia. Serum creatine kinase (CK) was slightly elevated between attacks of weakness in the 2 probands, and was even greater than 10 000 U/L during the episodes of weakness in the second proband, whose lower limb MRI revealed edema in bilateral medial gastrocnemius. Electromyography showed diffuse myotonia discharge and myogenic impairment in both probands, and myotonia discharge in the first proband\'s mother. Muscle pathology of both probands showed mild myopathic changes, and tube aggregation was occasionally observed in the second one. Genetic testing revealed a maternally inherited heterozygous R1448H mutation of SCN4A gene in the first proband and part of his family. A novel heterozygous R1448G mutation of SCN4A gene was reported in the second proband. Conclusions: Cold-triggered myotonia with or without paroxysmal weakness are the common characteristics of PMC. Myotonic potential and myogenic impairment can be tested in electromyography. The p.R1448G mutation is a new missense mutation.
目的： 探讨2个先天性副肌强直（PMC）家系的临床、病理和基因突变特点。 方法： 回顾性分析2个PMC家系部分患者的临床和病理资料，并对部分家系成员进行基因检测。 结果： 家系1为连续4代12人发病，家系2为3代仅先证者1人发病。2个家系13例患者均自幼起病，其中2个家系先证者的主要临床表现均为遇冷肌强直及发作性无力，而家系1中的其他11例患者均只有肌强直而无发作性无力表现。2个家系先证者肌无力发作间期的肌酸激酶（CK）均轻度升高，家系2的先证者曾于肌无力发作期查CK显著升高，>10 000 U/L。家系2的先证者下肢肌肉磁共振显示双侧腓肠肌内头水肿。2个家系先证者的肌电图均有明显肌强直电位，且主动收缩有早募集现象。2个家系先证者的病理均呈轻微肌源性病理改变，其中家系2的先证者偶见有管聚集。基因检测示家系1的先证者及其母亲、姐姐发现SCN4A基因p.R1448H单杂合突变，家系2的先证者为SCN4A基因p.R1448G单杂合突变。 结论： 遇冷肌强直伴或不伴发作性无力为PMC的主要临床表现，肌电图示除了肌强直放电外还可有肌源性损害，肌肉病理缺乏特异性。p.R1448G为本研究发现的新发错义突变。.

Non-dystrophic myotonias are characterized by clinical overlap making it challenging to establish genotype-phenotype correlations. We report clinical and electrophysiological findings in a girl and her father concomitantly harbouring single heterozygous mutations in SCN4A and CLCN1 genes. Functional characterization of N1297S hNav1.4 mutant was performed by patch clamp. The patients displayed a mild phenotype, mostly resembling a sodium channel myotonia. The CLCN1 c.501C>G (p.F167L) mutation has been already described in recessive pedigrees, whereas the SCN4A c.3890A>G (p.N1297S) variation is novel. Patch clamp experiments showed impairment of fast and slow inactivation of the mutated Nav1.4 sodium channel. The present findings suggest that analysis of both SCN4A and CLCN1 genes should be considered in myotonic patients with atypical clinical and neurophysiological features.