Selective Type II Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy in Severe Infantile Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The diagnostic muscle biopsy finding in severe infantile spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, SMA type 1) is considered to be large-group atrophy with isolated clusters of hypertrophic type I myofibers. We present a unique case of severe infantile spinal muscular atrophy with selective hypertrophy of type II myofibers. A male infant presented at age 2 months with breathing difficulties and by age 4 months was hypotonic and weak. Electromyography revealed denervation in all extremity muscles, and nerve conduction velocities were normal but with small compound muscle action potentials. Quadriceps muscle biopsy revealed many hypertrophied type II myofibers (myofibers with a mean least diameter of 25.4 μm). In contrast, the largest type I myofibers were 20 μm in least diameter (mean diameter, 14.9 μm), and there was a normal-size population of type II fibers (mean diameter, 15.7 μm). In addition, sheets of atrophic type I and type II fibers averaged 2.0 μm in least diameter. Sural nerve biopsy was normal. Breathing difficulties progressed, with death ensuing at age 5½ months. Autopsy revealed atrophy of ventral spinal roots with normal dorsal roots. There was loss of anterior horn cells, while remnant neurons were reduced in size. No other pathologic changes were identified. This case indicates that in severe infantile spinal muscular atrophy, relative sparing of the motor units with type II myofibers may occur. (J Child Neurol 1991;6:329-334).