Ullrich disease: collagen VI deficiency: EM suggests a new basis for muscular weakness

Neurology. 2002 Sep 24;59(6):920-3. doi: 10.1212/wnl.59.6.920.

Abstract

Ullrich disease is a form of congenital muscular dystrophy characterized clinically by generalized muscle weakness, contractures of the proximal joints, and hyperflexibility of the distal joints from birth or early infancy. Recently, mutations of the collagen VI gene have been associated with Ullrich disease. The authors report on a boy with Ullrich disease who has complete deficiency of collagen VI and harbors compound heterozygous mutations in the collagen VI alpha 2 gene. Absence of microfibrils on EM, together with normal collagen fibrils and basal lamina, suggests that loss of a link between interstitium and basal lamina may be a new molecular pathomechanism of muscular dystrophy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Collagen Diseases / genetics
  • Collagen Diseases / pathology
  • Collagen Type VI / deficiency*
  • Collagen Type VI / genetics*
  • Collagen Type VI / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Muscle Weakness / congenital
  • Muscle Weakness / genetics*
  • Muscle Weakness / pathology*
  • Muscular Dystrophies / congenital
  • Muscular Dystrophies / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophies / pathology
  • Mutation / genetics

Substances

  • Collagen Type VI