Novel p.Asp27Glu ACTA1 variant features congenital myopathy with finger flexor weakness, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac conduction defects

Abstract

Pathogenic variants in the skeletal muscle α-actin 1 gene (ACTA1) cause a spectrum of myopathies with clinical and myopathological diversity. Clinical presentations occur from the prenatal period to adulthood, commonly with proximal-predominant weakness and rarely preferential distal weakness. Myopathological findings are wide-ranging, with nemaline rods being most frequent. Associated cardiomyopathy is rare and conduction defects are not reported. We describe a family with congenital myopathy with prominent finger flexor weakness and cardiomyopathy with cardiac conduction defects. The proband, a 48-year-old Caucasian male, his 73-year-old mother, 41-year-old sister, and 19-year-old nephew presented with prominent finger flexor weakness on a background of neonatal hypotonia and delayed motor milestones. All had progressive cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction and/or left ventricular dilation. The proband and sister had intraventricular conduction delay and left anterior fascicular block, respectively. The mother had atrial fibrillation. Muscle biopsy in the proband and sister demonstrated congenital fiber-type disproportion and rare nemaline rods in the proband. A novel dominant variant in ACTA1 (c.81C>A, p.Asp27Glu) segregated within the family. This family expands the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of ACTA1-related myopathy, highlighting preferential finger flexor involvement with cardiomyopathy and conduction disease. We emphasize early and ongoing cardiac surveillance in ACTA1-related myopathy.

Keywords: ACTA1; Cardiomyopathy; Finger flexor weakness; Myopathy.