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This information is for you if your child has been recently diagnosed with SMA-PME.

This rare form of SMA is a neurological condition that causes weakness and wasting (atrophy) of muscles and a combination of seizures and uncontrollable muscle jerks (myoclonic epilepsy). This is caused by a loss of the nerve cells known as motor neurons, which are located in both the spinal cord and brain stem (this connects the spinal cord to the brain).

There is only limited information about SMA-PME because it is so rare, but your child’s medical team will be able to discuss how it will affect your child and how to manage symptoms for maximum comfort and quality of life.

After a few years of typical development, children with SMA-PME begin to have weakness and wasting (atrophy) in the muscles in their lower limbs. This causes difficulty walking and frequent falls. The muscles in their upper limbs are affected later, and soon the muscle weakness and atrophy spreads throughout their body. Once weakness reaches the muscles used for breathing and swallowing, it leads to life-threatening breathing problems and an increased risk of pneumonia.

A few years after the muscle weakness begins, children start to experience recurrent seizures (epilepsy). Most people with SMA-PME experience several different types of seizure, which often increase in frequency over time and are not usually well-controlled with medication. Individuals with SMA-PME may also have episodes of rhythmic shaking (tremors), usually in their hands; these tremors are not thought to be related to epilepsy.

Some people with SMA-PME develop hearing loss caused by nerve damage in their inner ear.

For children with SMA-PME, life expectancy is usually into late childhood or early adulthood. Sadly, life is often shortened by respiratory failure or pneumonia.

The affected gene is:

  • ASAH1¹‾² – Further information can be found here.
Some of the genes that cause rarer forms of SMA are associated with more than one condition, so please be aware that the website links suggested might provide information that is not just about SMA.

SMA-PME has an Autosomal Recessive inheritance pattern, meaning that two faulty copies of ASAH1 must be inherited in order for the condition to develop.

To find out more about this please see our information guide The Inheritance Patterns of Some Rarer Forms of SMA.

Though not a substitute for professional medical advice, the US National Library of Medicine, Genetics Home Reference provides more information which you can find here.


SMA UK

Provides information and support for anyone in the UK affected by any form of SMA.


Contact

Provides information and support for families with children with a disability.


Children’s hospices
Located throughout the UK, these offer a wide range of services and support to eligible children and families; some also offer short breaks. Details of hospice services are available from Together for Short Lives and more information is available on their website.

1. Zhou et al. (2012) ‘Spinal muscular atrophy associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy is caused by mutations in ASAH1’, American Journal of Human Genetics, 91, pp. 5–14.

2. https://www.omim.org/entry/159950 (last accessed 16th August 2022)

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Author: SMA UK Information Production Team
Last updated: August 2022
Next full review due September 2024


Links last checked: September 2023

The information provided in this guide, on our website, and through links to other websites, is designed to complement not be a substitute for clinical and professional care and advice.

For more detail about how we produce our information, please see these pages.

If you have any feedback about this information, please do let us know at: information@smauk.org.uk