Bethlem Myopathy

Collagen VI-related diseases include Bethlem myopathy and Ulrich dystrophy. They are both caused by decreased levels or a lack of collagen VI. The first symptoms can be present at birth as joint laxity and hypotonic muscles; often seen with luxation of the hip and scoliosis. During childhood, patients may develop contractures of fingers, wrists, elbows and ankles. Muscle weakness often appears in childhood to early adulthood and is progressive. It often results in walking difficulties.
There is no treatment available for Behtlem and Ulrich dystrophies.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of involved muscles, the function and quality of the muscles and the disease severity using MRI.

The Global Registry for COL6-related dystrophies (www.collagen6.org) is a database for individuals who have been diagnosed with Bethlem Myopathy, Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (UCMD) or an intermediate form of these diseases. The registry team is based at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre at Newcastle University, UK and is part of the TREAT-NMD alliance global network of registries. The registry has been developed in partnership with a number of leading neuromuscular researchers and is funded by the Collagen VI Alliance.
This patient registry will:
Help identify patients for relevant clinical trials as they become available
Encourage further research into Collagen 6-related dystrophies
Provide researchers with specific patient information to support their research
Assist doctors and other health professionals by providing them with up-to-date information on managing Collagen 6- related dystrophies, to help them deliver better standards of care for their patients
The investigators welcome the registration of:
✓ All patients, with a diagnosis of a COL6-related dystrophy (Bethlem Myopathy, Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy or Intermediate form) , which has been confirmed via genetic testing or muscle biopsy.

Muscular dystrophy is a group of disorders that are characterized by progressive muscle weakening and loss of muscle mass, caused by defects in muscle proteins. Muscular dystrophy is almost always inherited disorders, and so far, no curative treatments exist.
Previous studies have shown that endurance training significantly improves fitness and self-assessed muscle function in a variety of muscular dystrophies. In this study, we wish to investigate whether patients with Bethlem myopathy (a specific form of muscular dystrophy) also benefit from endurance training.
The study consists of two test days, a 10-week training period and five blood tests.
Patients will be required to train, three times per week, for 10 weeks, on a bike ergometer with a specific training intensity, under pulse rate monitoring.
The training period will be flanked by two test days, where we will determine, and compare the patients' muscle strength and fitness level, from before to after the training program. The patients conditioning level will be determined from a 15 minute cycle ergometer test and patients will undergo three functional tests to determine their functional muscle strength.
We will as a safety measure analyze blood tests before, during and after the training program for the muscle enzyme creatine kinase (an indicator of muscle damage) and through adverse effects as reported by patients during weekly telephone-consultations with the Principal investigator.
We anticipate, that Bethlem myopathy patients will have a similar rise in fitness level and functional muscle strength, as that seen in patients with other forms of muscular dystrophy, who undertake a similar training program.