Changes of Motor Function Tests in Congenital Myopathy Subjects Treated With Oral Salbutamol as Compared to no Treatment

Congenital myopathies (CM) is a large group of muscle disorders, presenting with hypotonia and non-progressive generalised muscle weakness, which can lead to motor developmental delay.More than 20 genes can cause CM and currently there is no curative treatment for this disorder.

Case reports and a smaller study have previous reported that oral salbutamol has benefited subjects with different types of congenital myopathies by increasing their muscle strength.The exact effect of salbutamol in muscle cells isn't exactly known but it has been hypothesized to have an anabolic effect by triggering different pathways inside the muscle cells which increase cell proliferation, decrease apoptosis, decreases proteolysis and increases protein synthesis.

The aim of our study is evaluate if daily oral salbutamol can increase the muscle function and muscle strength in these patients after 6 months on treatment, compared to no treatment.

We hypothesise that congenital myopathy subjects treated with daily oral salbutamol will increase in their motor function measure 32 test (MFM32) with at least 3 points after 6 months of treatment as compared to no treatment. We have calculated that a sample size of 20 subjects is needed for this study.

Congenital myopathy subjects will be recruited from the whole of Sweden and the study will be performed at the Sahlgrenska university hospital in Gothenburg Sweden.

The subjects must have clinical symptoms consistent with congenital myopathy and have a verified mutation in a gene known to cause congenital myopathy.

After a screening period of 6 months the eligible subjects will be randomised into two groups, group A and group B . During period 1, group A will receive oral salbutamol 3 times daily and the group B will have no treatment.They will be evaluated after 6 months. Then after a washout period of 1 month, Period 2 will begin where the groups will cross-over, i.e group A will have no treatment and group B will receive oral salbutamol 3 times daily.

In total each subject will be evaluated 5 times during 19 months with the same battery of muscle function and strength tests performed each time.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Signed informed consent from legal guardians/patients and patient (where applicable)
* Subject must have a confirmed congenital myopathy(CM) diagnosis defined as:

  * Clinical symptoms consistent with CM with pathohistological findings on muscle biopsy and known genetic mutation consistent with CM OR
  * Clinical symptoms consistent with CM with unspecific pathohistological changes but known genetic mutation consistent with CM
* Stabile motor function tests over at least 6 months (between baseline and screening)
* If on other medications- stabile dose for at least 6 months prior to start
* At least 1 point on Motor function measure 32 test is (MFM32) at screening visit.

\>5- \<31 years of age (from 6 years to 30 years of age)

* Women of fertile age must be on oral contraceptives
* Underwent cardiac evaluation with ECG and 2D echocardiography in the last 2 years and has no signs or symptoms of cardiac abnormality.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subject with clinical symptoms consistent with CM but has no confirmed genetic mutation and only unspecific changes on muscle biopsy that are not confined to just CM but can be seen in other disorders.
* Younger than 6 years of age and older than 30 years
* Subject receives 94 or more points on MFM32 test at screening visit.
* Subject doesn't not speak Swedish and a translator is needed in order to perform the tests included in the study.
* Subject smokes more than 10 cigarettes a day or has smoked more than 10 cigarettes in the last year
* Subject has tracheostomy
* Subject receives no points on motor function measure test at screening
* Subject has other concomitant chronic diagnosis that can affect the patients motor function, in the opinion of the investigator
* Subject is currently or has been on oral corticosteroids in the last 6 months
* Subject has arrhythmia as seen on electrocardiogram(ECG), confirmed by cardiologist
* Subject has cardiomyopathy as seen on ultrasound, confirmed by cardiologist
* Subject has severe behavioural and/ cognitive problems that preclude participation in the study, in the opinion of the investigator
* Subject is allergic or hypersensitive to study drug or any of its constituents
* Subject has previous or ongoing medical condition, medical history, physical findings or laboratory abnormalities that could affect safety, make it unlikely that treatment and follow- up will be correctly completed or impair the assessment of study results, in the opinion of the Investigator;
* Subject is currently taking any other investigational drug or has taken any other investigational drug within 3 months prior to the first dose of study medication
* Subject is planning on participating in any other study during the duration of this study.
* Female subjects of fertile age that are or are planning to become pregnant during the study.
* Female subjects that have given birth up to 1 year prior to baseline visit and/or are nursing up to 1 month prior of baseline visit
* Subject has a fracture in the last 6 months before the study start or has acquired a fracture during the study.