Abdulla et al. (2007) represented MRI results of two cases with merosin-negative congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) to distinguish merosin-negative CMD amongst other CMD types. Case 1 represented a 3 year old girl suffering from hypotonia, neck and trunk weakness, poor weight gain, slow feeding, weak cry, head lag, and weak hand grasp. The girl was not able to sit or bear weight on her legs. Case 2 represented a 6 month old girl suffering from congenital hypotonia, proximal limb girdle weakness, myopathic facies and normal head circumference. Merosin-negative CMD was distinguished through the absence of brainstem involvement, polymicrogyria or cobblestone lissencephaly in both cases. Furthermore, Abdulla et al. (2007) confirmed the diagnosis through muscle biopsy which demonstrated dystrophic modifications.

Habeeb et al. (2006) described 21 Arab children with the pure type of congenital muscular dystrophy with normal mental status, except one case with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult. Fourteen were laminin alpha2 (merosin) deficient, and six were laminin alpha2 positive; laminin alpha2 status was not determined in one patient. None of the laminin alpha2-deficient patients achieved independent ambulation, whereas three of the laminin alpha2-positive patients were able to walk. Radiologic evaluation demonstrated an abnormal central white-matter signal in 11 of 13 laminin alpha2-deficient and in 1 of 5 laminin alpha2-positive patients; none had evidence of brain dysplasia. Nerve conduction velocities were normal in 5 of 5 laminin alpha2-positive patients, whereas in the laminin alpha2-deficient patients, it was slow in 9 of 11 for the motor nerves and normal in 8 of 9 for the sensory nerve. Two of the laminin alpha2-positive patients had pseudohypertrophy of the calves, and two of the laminin alpha2-deficient ones had seizures. The patient in whom the laminin alpha2 status was not determined had a severe course, an abnormal central white-matter signal, and epilepsy and resembled more the laminin alpha2-deficient group.

[See also: Kuwait > Al-Ajmi et al., 2001].

Al-Ajmi et al. (2001) described the first Syrian patient to be diagnosed with merosin deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. The patient was a 2-year old boy who presented at Al-Sabah Hospital in Kuwait suffering from congenital muscular dystrophy. MRI brain in his case showed extensive abnormalities of white matter. His EEG pattern was peculiar with fast rhythms in occipito-temporal regions.