Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Identifying clinical outcome assessments (COAs) that are able to detect change in functional abilities over time in the limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) population is critical for managing disease progression in addition to determining drug efficacy in the context of anticipated therapeutic trials. Through the Genetic Resolution and Assessments Solving Phenotypes in LGMD (GRASP-LGMD) Consortium, 42 participants with LGMDR1 were enrolled in a 12-month natural history study across 11 international sites. Each participant completed a battery of COAs, including the North Star Assessment for Limb Girdle-Type Muscular Dystrophies (NSAD), 100-meter timed test (100 m), Performance of the Upper Limb (PUL), and 4-Stair Climb (4SC) in addition to several patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) across three time points in this year-long study. Participants with LGMDR1 demonstrate significant decline in the 100 m, NSAD, PUL, and 4SC over a 12-month time period. The rate of decline was greater in those considered to be higher functioning (10-meter time <12 s) while genetic variant types did not appear to significantly influence the rate of decline in our cohort. A combination of COAs is determined to be the best approach at measuring functional change over time in patients with LGMDR1.
Source: Neuromuscular Disorders
Authors: Stephanie M. Hunn, Andrew R. Findlay, Lindsay N. Alfano, Aileen Jones, Amanda Butler, Linda P. Lowes, Megan A. Iammarino, Natalie F. Reash, Lindsay Pietruszewski, Sandhya Sasidharan, Melissa Currence, Jeffrey M. Statland, Talia Strahler, Robert Will, Matthew Wicklund, Stacy Dixon, Renee Augsburger, Tahseen Mozaffar, Katie M. Laubscher, Shelley R.H. Mockler, Katherine D. Mathews, Nikia Stinson, Doris G. Leung, Molly M. Stark, Rebecca A. Horton, Peter B. Kang, Meredith K. James, Amanda Clause, Conrad C. Weihl, Nicholas E. Johnson
Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Nationwide Children's Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of California, Irvine, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, University of Iowa Health Care, Kennedy Krieger Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Catherine University, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Centre for Life, Newcastle University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,470
OpenAlex ID: W7146957348