The blind men and the elephant: recognising the multisystem symptoms of myotonic dystrophy type 1

Abstract

Although myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is named after its characteristic muscle symptoms, it is in fact a multisystem disorder that can affect many different organs. It is therefore not surprising that this disease can manifest with a myriad of symptoms, depending on the organs involved. The age of onset and severity of symptoms vary widely. Diagnostic delays of more than ten years are common and it’s not unusual for an entire family to be diagnosed only after the birth of a child with a severe phenotype. Knowledge of the spectrum of possible symptoms in DM1 can aid clinicians to recognise this disorder, thereby preventing unnecessary diagnostic delay and facilitating early treatment of disease complications. Here, we present an overview of the potential symptoms of DM1 at different ages, with the aim of raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the recognition of this disabling disease.