Chronic spinal muscular atrophy of facioscapulohumeral type

Abstract

Chronic spinal muscular atrophy of FSH type affecting a mother and her son and daughter is reported. The relevant literature is reviewed and the relation between this condition and Kugelberg Welander (K W) disease is discussed. Chronic spinal muscular atrophy of FSH type is considered to be a different entity from the eponymous K W disease. Each type of muscular dystrophy, e.g. limb girdle, FSH, distal, ocular, or oculopharyngeal type, has its counterpart of nuclear origin. A classification of the chronic spinal muscular atrophies is suggested following the classification of muscular dystrophy.