This test is rarely indicated. Muscle MRI is sensitive for detecting muscle damage, even in mild cases. Because of the particular muscle involvement patterns of FSHD, MRI can help differentiate FSHD from other muscle diseases, directing genetic testing. Differential diagnosis
Included in the differential diagnosis of FSHD are limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (especially calpainopathy), scapuloperoneal myopathy, mitochondrial myopathy, Pompe disease, and polymyositis. Calpainopathy and scapuloperoneal myopathy, like FSHD, present with scapular winging. Features that suggest FSHD are facial weakness, asymmetric weakness, and lack of benefit from immunosuppression medications. Features the suggest an alternative diagnosis are contractures, respiratory insufficiency, weakness of muscles controlling eye movement, and weakness of the tongue or throat. Management
No intervention has proven to significantly slow progression of weakness or improve strength. Screening and monitoring of complications
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends several medical tests to detect complications of FSHD. A dilated eye exam to look for retinal abnormalities is recommended in those newly diagnosed with FSHD; for those with large D4Z4 deletions, an evaluation by a retinal specialist is recommended yearly. A hearing test is recommended for individuals with early-onset FSHD prior to starting school, or for any other FSHD-affected individual with symptoms of hearing loss. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is recommended in those newly diagnosed to establish baseline pulmonary function, and recurrently for those with pulmonary insufficiency symptoms or risks. Routine screening for heart conditions, such as through an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram (echo), is considered unnecessary in those without symptoms of heart disease.
However, chromosomal rearrangements can occur between 4q and 10q repeat arrays, and involvement in disease is possible if a 4q D4Z4 repeat and polyadenylation signal are transferred onto 10q, or if rearrangement causes FSHD1. DUX4 consists of three exons. Exons 1 and 2 are in each repeat. Exon 3 is in the pLAM region telomeric to the last partial repeat. Multiple RNA transcripts are produced from the D4Z4 repeat array, both sense and antisense. Some transcripts might be degraded in areas to produce si-like small RNAs. Some transcripts that originate centromeric to the D4Z4 repeat array at the non-deleted element (NDE), termed D4Z4 regulatory element transcripts (DBE-T), could play a role in DUX4 derepression. One proposed mechanism is that DBE-T leads to the recruitment of the trithorax-group protein Ash1L, an increase in H3K36me2-methylation, and ultimately de-repression of 4q35 genes. FSHD1
FSHD involving deletion of D4Z4 repeats (termed D4Z4 contraction) on 4q is classified as FSHD1, which accounts for 95% of FSHD cases. Typically, chromosome 4 includes between 11 and 150 D4Z4 repeats. In FSHD1, there are 1–10 D4Z4 repeats. The number of repeats is roughly inversely related to disease severity. Namely, those with 8 - 10 repeats tend to have the mildest presentations, sometimes with no symptoms; those with 4 - 7 repeats have moderate disease that is highly variable; and those with 1 - 3 repeats are more likely to have severe, atypical, and early-onset disease.