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- $Unique_ID{BRK04264}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Thomsen Disease}
- $Subject{Thomsen Disease Myotonia Congenita Myotonia Hereditaria Ataxia
- Muscularis Myotonia Dystrophica Thomsen-Becker Myotonia Myotonic Dystrophy
- Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome Chondrodystrophic Myotonia }
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1987, 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 372:
- Thomsen Disease
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible the main title of the article (Thomsen Disease) is not the
- name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate
- names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders covered by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- Myotonia Congenita
- Myotonia Hereditaria
- Ataxia Muscularis
- Myotonia Dystrophica
- Thomsen-Becker Myotonia
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Myotonic Dystrophy
- Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome, also known as Chondrodystrophic Myotonia
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Thomsen Disease is a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder that usually
- begins early in life. Difficulty in initiating movement combined with
- slowness of muscle relaxation are the primary symptoms. Muscle stiffness of
- the entire body may also occur since this disorder involves the entire muscle
- system. Thomsen Disease is generally a nonprogressive disorder.
-
- Symptoms
-
- People with Thomsen Disease experience spasms or rigidity when an attempt is
- made to move muscles after a period of rest, or when the muscles are
- mechanically stimulated. Contraction of muscles may persist thirty seconds
- or more after mechanical stimulation. The stiffness usually disappears as
- the muscles are used. Symptoms may involve the muscles of the entire body.
- Slowness in chewing, swallowing, talking, and walking can occur.
-
- Causes
-
- Thomsen Disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Medical
- researchers believe that excess production of a nerve transmitting substance
- (acetylcholine) at locations where nerves connect to muscles (neuromuscular
- junctions) can cause this disorder.
-
- Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of
- the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received from the father
- and one from the mother. In dominant disorders, a single copy of the disease
- gene (received from either the mother or father) will be expressed
- "dominating" the normal gene and resulting in appearance of the disease. The
- risk of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is 50%
- for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Thomsen Disease usually begins at birth or shortly after. Rarely, it may
- suddenly begin at puberty but does not seem to start thereafter. It appears
- to affect males more often than females.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- Myotonic Dystrophy is an inherited neuromuscular disorder involving the
- muscles, vision, endocrine glands, possible mental deficiency and loss of
- hair. This rare disorder occurs in men and women equally with onset commonly
- during young adulthood. However, it can occur at any age and is extremely
- variable in degree of severity. (For more information on this disorder,
- choose "Myotonic Dystrophy" as your search term in the Rare Disease
- Database).
-
- Schwartz-Jampel Syndrome, also known as Chondrodystrophic Myotonia,
- involves delays in normal muscle growth usually beginning in early infancy.
- Thereafter, muscles may fail to keep pace with the patient's growth.
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- The antiarrythmic drug Tocainide is often used as a treatment for Thomsen
- Disease. However, careful monitoring of the dosages and the patient's heart
- function is important while taking this drug.
-
- Thomsen Disease patients usually do not respond to physical therapy
- because of the weakness of the muscles, but in some cases active and passive
- exercises may be helpful. Agencies which provide services to handicapped
- people and their families may be of benefit. Genetic counseling can be
- useful for families affected by this disorder. Other treatment is
- symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- Treatment of Thomsen Disease using the experimental antimyotonic drug
- mexiletine may improve muscle weakness in some patients. The use of this
- treatment is still under investigation to determine it's long-term
- effectiveness and possible side effects.
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
- April 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
- every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
- Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
- current information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Thomsen Disease, please contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS)
- 9000 Rockville Pike
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 496-5751
- (800) 352-9424
-
- The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information
- Clearinghouse
- Box AMS
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 495-4484
-
- Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Office
- 3300 E. Sunrise Dr.
- Tucson, AZ 85718
- (602) 529-2000
-
- For information on genetics and genetic counseling referrals, please
- contact:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH TOCAINIDE OF RECESSIVE GENERALIZED CONGENITAL
- MYOTONIA: E.W. Streib; Ann Neurol (May 1986, issue 19(5)). Pp. 501-504.
-
- VALUE OF MEXILETINE IN THE TREATMENT OF THOMSEN-BECKER MYOTONIA: F.
- Himon, et. al.; Arch Fr Pediatr (Jan. 1986, issue 43(1)). Pp. 49-50.
-
-