Heart and Skeletal Muscle Problems in Neuroacanthocytosis

The purpose of this study is to learn about heart and skeletal muscle problems related to neuroacanthocytosis (also called Mcleod's syndrome and Levine-Critchley disease). This inherited condition causes problems of blood, brain, heart and muscle function. About 60 percent of patients have an unusual heart muscle abnormality that increases the risk of sudden death. Although the molecular (genetic) changes responsible for neuroacanthocytosis have recently been identified, the heart and skeletal muscle problems are not well understood. This study will try to correlate the specific genetic abnormalities with the clinical features of the disease and identify possible causes of sudden death.

Patients and first degree relatives of patients with neuroacanthocytosis 18 years of age or older may be eligible for this study. Participants will be admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center for 2 to 5 days for the following tests:

Electrocardiogram - to measure the electrical function of the heart
Echocardiogram - uses ultrasound to measure heart thickness and detect heart vessel obstructions
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - uses a magnetic field and radio waves to provide pictures of the heart for measurements of muscle thickness and muscle function
Exercise testing on a stationary bicycle - to measure and record symptoms during exercise, exercise duration, heart rate and blood pressure, oxygen consumption and aerobic threshold
Holter monitoring - uses a device attached to the chest for continuous recording of heart rhythms
Blood tests - to look for muscle damage, to exclude other causes of muscle disease, and to perform DNA (genetic) testing
Neurological consultation - to test muscle function, coordination and tests of certain brain functions such as memory and concentration

Patients with evidence of muscle disease may also undergo a muscle biopsy. This is done under a local anesthetic and possibly small amounts of sedation. A small area of skin over a large arm muscle (biceps) is numbed, a short incision is made and a small sample of muscle tissue is removed for microscopic examination.

Patients with evidence of heart disease may also undergo the following additional tests:

Cardiac catheterization and electrophysiological study - to determine the extent of heart disease and study abnormal heart rhythms. Cardiac catheterization is done under mild sedation. The groin is numbed with an anesthetic and catheters (thin plastic tubes) are inserted and passed through the blood vessels into the chambers of the heart. Pressures inside the heart are measured and pictures may be taken of the heart arteries. During this procedure an electrophysiology test may be done to study abnormal heart rhythms.
Cardiac biopsy - to examine heart muscle tissue. This may be done at the end of the cardiac catheterization. Small samples of heart muscle are obtained using a fine instrument passed through the catheter in the groin.

Family members who do not have signs of heart or muscle disease will only undergo non-invasive tests. All participants will be given the results of all tests and treatment options will be discussed.