A severe childhood proximal myopathy, with autosomal recessive inheritance, frequent in Tunisia

The genetic clinical, biological and histological study in five families with a muscular dystrophy are reported. The disease appears to be progressive, affecting both sexes, beginning often in infancy, severe at least in one of the siblings abd variable from one case to the other. Hypertrophy of the calves, and weakness of the limb girdle as well as the trunk is present. CPK are much increased. Muscle biopsy shows active degeneration and regeneration. The genetic transmission is suggested to be autosomal recessive. Peculiar attention is drawn to the high incidence (75 per cent) of consanguinity of these cases.