DOMINANT CONGENITAL BENIGN SPINAL MUSCULAR-ATROPHY

The affected members of the family described in this article exhibit c ongenital nonprogressive atrophy and weakness of lower limb muscles in association with contractures. Clinical and laboratory findings suppo rt a dominant lower motor neuron disorder. DNA analysis excluded linka ge of the disease with SMA markers on the long arm of chromosome 5. Th e condition must be differentiated from congenital and infantile SMA, from ''arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, distal type,'' and from non hereditary types of congenital arthrogryposis. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.