This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Objectives: To identify correlates of calf cramp in children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A).
Methods: Throughout Australia, 81 children aged 2–16 years with CMT1A were recruited. Measures of strength, ankle range, foot posture, balance, agility, endurance, gait, and neurophysiology were collected. Post hoc logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of calf cramp.
Results: Of the 81 children, 26 (32%) reported calf cramp, and 1 child each reported toe, quadriceps, or arm cramp. Calf cramp was associated (p < 0.05) with older age; the presence of hand tremor; stronger foot inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion; and better performance in long-jump and 9-hole peg tests. Logistic regression analysis revealed only increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.58; p = 0.002) and the presence of hand tremor (OR 3.81, 95% CI 1.18–12.56; p = 0.028) as independent predictors of calf cramp.
Conclusion: Calf cramps are common in children with CMT1A and worsen with age. This study revealed a previously unrecognized link between cramp and hand tremor in children with CMT1A. Further investigation of proposed mechanisms and risk factors common to both cramp and tremor will contribute to our understanding of these common complications of CMT1A.
GLOSSARY
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CMT=
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease;
- CMT1A=
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A
- Received August 12, 2010.
- Accepted August 31, 2011.
- Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Topics Discussed
Alert Me
Recommended articles
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A presenting as calf hypertrophy and muscle cramps
Determinants of reduced health-related quality of life in pediatric inherited neuropathies
Validation of MRC Centre MRI calf muscle fat fraction protocol as an outcome measure in CMT1A
MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 1A