Synonyms: Desmin-related myofibrillar myopathy
A rare genetic skeletal muscle disease characterized by abnormal chimeric aggregates of desmin and other cytoskeletal proteins and granulofilamentous material at the ultrastructural level in muscle biopsies and variable clinical myopathological features age of disease onset and rate of disease progression. Patients present with bilateral skeletal muscle weakness that starts in distal leg muscles and spreads proximally sometimes involving trunk neck flexors and facial muscles and often cardiomyopathy manifested by conduction blocks arrhythmias chronic heart failure and sometimes tachyarrhythmia. Weakness eventually leads to wheelchair dependence. Respiratory insufficiency can be a major cause of disability and death beginning with nocturnal hypoventilation with oxygen desaturation and progressing to daytime respiratory failure.
Data from Orphanet are used to provide information on a disease's name, synonym(s), and overview. Reference: Access aggregated data from Orphanet at Orphadata. Orphadata: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Available on http://www.orphadata.org. Data version April 2026
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Desminopathy?
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Advocacy Organizations
Association Aux Pas du Coeur – Côte d’ivoire
Our organization wants to raise awareness and recognition of rare diseases in Ivory Coast. Our mission is to: Raise awareness and campaign to help with the diagnosis and free therapeutic care of patients. Request and/or contribute to actions relating to the training of the medical profession to be able to make a final diagnosis and ensure continuous monitoring of patients easily.
Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation
CCF's mission is to accelerate the search for causes and cures for pediatric cardiomyopathy through increased research, education, awareness, advocacy, and support to affected children and their families.
Fundacion Powerchair Football Argentina
To develop Powerchair Football in Argentina in order to integrate people with motor disabilities (SMA, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Achondroplasia, Rare Diseases) into sports practice and to promote their social inclusion, based on empowerment, independence, and the creation of new bonds and friendships.
Heart of a Giant Foundation
The mission of the HGF is to achieve better health outcomes for heart diseases and related chronic health conditions in our communities and enhance the quality of life through health education, care support, and connection to community resources.
HeartCharged
Ending preventable deaths from undiagnosed heart conditions and sudden cardiac arrest, especially in young people, and providing patient-to-patient support.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
Providing support, advocacy, and education to patients, families, the medical community, and the public about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and all thick heart muscle disorders, while supporting research and fostering the development of treatments.
Neuromuscular Disease Foundation
The Neuromuscular Disease Foundation's (NDF) mission is to enhance the quality of the lives of people living with GNE Myopathy (also known as HIBM) through advocacy, education, outreach, and funding clinical research focused on treatments and a cure.
RareDNA Foundation
Dedicated to improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by rare DNA heart mutations by advancing awareness, access and action. We increase awareness among medical professionals and the public, provide education and resources on diagnosis and treatment, support scientific research, and advocate for faster diagnostic pathways, giving families the knowledge and care they need.
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Clinical Trials
For a list of clinical trials in this disease area, please click here.