Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Neurology 3/2019

01-03-2019 | Review

Kennedy’s disease (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy): a clinically oriented review of a rare disease

Authors: Marianthi Breza, Georgios Koutsis

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 3/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy’s disease, is a rare, X-linked hereditary lower motor neuron disease, characterized by progressive muscular weakness. An expanded trinucleotide repeat (CAG > 37) in the androgen receptor gene (AR), encoding glutamine, is the mutation responsible for Kennedy’s disease. Toxicity of this mutant protein affects both motor neurons and muscles. In this review, we provide a comprehensive, clinically oriented overview of the current literature regarding Kennedy’s disease, highlighting gaps in our knowledge that remain to be addressed in further research. Kennedy’s disease mimics are also discussed, as are ongoing and recently completed therapeutic endeavours.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
3.
go back to reference Kennedy WR, Alter M, Sung JH (1968) Progressive proximal spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy of late onset. Neurology 18 Kennedy WR, Alter M, Sung JH (1968) Progressive proximal spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy of late onset. Neurology 18
10.
go back to reference Udd B, Juvonen V, Hakamies L et al (1998) High prevalence of Kennedy’s disease in Western Finland—is the syndrome underdiagnosed? Acta Neurol Scand 98:128–133CrossRefPubMed Udd B, Juvonen V, Hakamies L et al (1998) High prevalence of Kennedy’s disease in Western Finland—is the syndrome underdiagnosed? Acta Neurol Scand 98:128–133CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Amato A, Prior TW, Barohn RJ et al (1993) Kennedy’s disease: a clinicopathologic correlation with mutations in the androgen receptor gene. Neurology 43:791–794CrossRefPubMed Amato A, Prior TW, Barohn RJ et al (1993) Kennedy’s disease: a clinicopathologic correlation with mutations in the androgen receptor gene. Neurology 43:791–794CrossRefPubMed
21.
go back to reference Biancalana V, Serville F, Pommier J et al (1992) Moderate instability of the trinucleotide repeat in spinobulbar muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 1:255–258CrossRefPubMed Biancalana V, Serville F, Pommier J et al (1992) Moderate instability of the trinucleotide repeat in spinobulbar muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 1:255–258CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Kooy RF, Reyniers E, Storm K et al (1999) CAG Repeat contraction in the androgen receptor gene in three brothers with mental retardation. Am J Med Genet 213:209–213CrossRef Kooy RF, Reyniers E, Storm K et al (1999) CAG Repeat contraction in the androgen receptor gene in three brothers with mental retardation. Am J Med Genet 213:209–213CrossRef
34.
go back to reference Ferrante M, Wilbourn AJ (1997) The characteristic electrodiagnostic features of Kennedy’s disease. Muscle Nerve 20:323–329CrossRefPubMed Ferrante M, Wilbourn AJ (1997) The characteristic electrodiagnostic features of Kennedy’s disease. Muscle Nerve 20:323–329CrossRefPubMed
59.
go back to reference Igarashi S, Tanno Y, Onodera O et al (1992) Strong correlation between the number of CAG repeats in androgen receptor genes and the clinical onset of features of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Neurology 42:2300–2302CrossRefPubMed Igarashi S, Tanno Y, Onodera O et al (1992) Strong correlation between the number of CAG repeats in androgen receptor genes and the clinical onset of features of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Neurology 42:2300–2302CrossRefPubMed
63.
go back to reference Antonini G, Gragnani F, Romaniello A et al (2000) Sensory involvement in spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy’s disease). Muscle Nerve 23:252–258CrossRefPubMed Antonini G, Gragnani F, Romaniello A et al (2000) Sensory involvement in spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy’s disease). Muscle Nerve 23:252–258CrossRefPubMed
65.
go back to reference Meriggioli MN, Rowin J, Sanders DB (1999) Distinguishing clinical and electrodiagnostic features of X-linked bulbospinal neuronopathy. Muscle Nerve 22:1693–1697CrossRefPubMed Meriggioli MN, Rowin J, Sanders DB (1999) Distinguishing clinical and electrodiagnostic features of X-linked bulbospinal neuronopathy. Muscle Nerve 22:1693–1697CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Kennedy’s disease (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy): a clinically oriented review of a rare disease
Authors
Marianthi Breza
Georgios Koutsis
Publication date
01-03-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Neurology / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-018-8968-7

Other articles of this Issue 3/2019

Journal of Neurology 3/2019 Go to the issue

Original Communication

Mills’ syndrome revisited