Weakness of the limb-girdle muscles (also known as the pelvic and shoulder girdles), that is, lack of strength of the muscles around the shoulders and the pelvis.

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy is a genetic form of heart disease. It occurs when heart (cardiac) muscle becomes thin and weakened in at least one chamber of the heart, causing the open area of the chamber to become enlarged (dilated). As a result, the heart is unable to pump blood as efficiently as usual. To compensate, the heart attempts to increase the amount of blood being pumped through the heart, leading to further thinning and weakening of the cardiac muscle. Over time, this condition results in heart failure.\n\nIt usually takes many years for symptoms of familial dilated cardiomyopathy to cause health problems. They typically begin in mid-adulthood, but can occur at any time from infancy to late adulthood. Signs and symptoms of familial dilated cardiomyopathy can include an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), extreme tiredness (fatigue), fainting episodes (syncope), and swelling of the legs and feet. In some cases, the first sign of the disorder is sudden cardiac death. The severity of the condition varies among affected individuals, even in members of the same family.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is defined by the presence of increased ventricular wall thickness or mass in the absence of loading conditions (hypertension, valve disease) sufficient to cause the observed abnormality.

The presence of an abnormality of cardiac function that is responsible for the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate that is commensurate with the needs of the tissues or a state in which abnormally elevated filling pressures are required for the heart to do so. Heart failure is frequently related to a defect in myocardial contraction.

Heart rate of greater than 100 beats per minute.

A conduction block of the right branch of the bundle of His. This manifests as a prolongation of the QRS complex (greater than 0.12 s) with delayed activation of the right ventricle and terminal delay on the EKG.

A kind of abnormal ventricular axis in the EKG whereby the QRS axis falls between +90 degrees and 180 degrees, or beyond +100 degrees if the adult range is used.

Thickening of the heart walls in both ventricles.

The fourth heart sound (S4) is a low-pitched sound that occurs just before the first heart sound (S1) when the atria contract to force blood into the left ventricle, that is, coincident with late diastolic filling of the ventricle due to atrial contraction.

Increased jugular venous pressure.

A height below that which is expected according to age and gender norms. Although there is no universally accepted definition of short stature, many refer to "short stature" as height more than 2 standard deviations below the mean for age and gender (or below the 3rd percentile for age and gender dependent norms).

Inability to walk in a person who previous had the ability to walk.

The presence of an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

Reduced strength of muscles.

A lack of strength of the proximal muscles.

Muscular atrophy in the distribution of shoulder girdle and peroneal muscles.

An abnormality in which the nuclei of sarcomeres take on an abnormally central localization (or in which this feature is found in an increased proportion of muscle cells).

Muscle hypertrophy affecting the calf muscles.

Amyotrophy (muscular atrophy) affecting the proximal musculature.

An abnormal predominance of type I muscle fibers (in general, this feature can only be observed on muscle biopsy).

The presence of abnormal electromyographic patterns indicative of myopathy, such as small-short polyphasic motor unit potentials.

Subsarcolemmal, eosinophilic glass-like regions in the cytoplasm of muscle fibers. Hyaline bodies show significant reactivity to myofibrillar ATPase after acid pre-incubation and with immunohistochemistry, show intense reactivity with only slow myosin heavy chain. Electron microscopy of the affected areas show a lack of myofibrils and a uniform, finely granular matrix, sometimes suggesting a filamentous nature, containing few scattered nuclei and mitochondria.

Impairment of gas exchange within the lungs secondary to a disease process, neoplasm, or trauma, possibly resulting in hypoxia, hypercarbia, or both, but not requiring intubation or mechanical ventilation. Patients are normally managed with pharmaceutical therapy, supplemental oxygen, or both.

Perceived difficulty to breathe that occurs with exercise or exertion and improves with rest.

A functional defect characterized by reduced total lung capacity (TLC) not associated with abnormalities of expiratory airflow or airway resistance. Spirometrically, a restrictive defect is defined as FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and FVC (forced vital capacity) less than 80 per cent. Restrictive lung disease may be caused by alterations in lung parenchyma or because of a disease of the pleura, chest wall, or neuromuscular apparatus.

An elevation of the level of the enzyme creatine kinase (also known as creatine phosphokinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) in the blood. CK levels can be elevated in a number of clinical disorders such as myocardial infarction, rhabdomyolysis, and muscular dystrophy.

Height of the palate more than 2 SD above the mean (objective) or palatal height at the level of the first permanent molar more than twice the height of the teeth (subjective).

A facial appearance characteristic of myopathic conditions. The face appears expressionless with sunken cheeks, bilateral ptosis, and inability to elevate the corners of the mouth, due to muscle weakness.