Pediatric neurology
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Four patients with nemaline myopathy, 1 with the severe infantile form and 3 with the benign congenital (classical) form, exhibited significant respiratory problems. In the patient with the severe infantile form, respiratory failure paralleled the generalized muscle weakness, whereas the 3 patients with the benign infantile form suddenly developed respiratory failure while still ambulant. ⋯ A discrepancy between motor ability and respiratory involvement probably is not uncommon in patients with the moderate congenital form of nemaline myopathy. Clinicians must always be alert to respiratory failure when monitoring patients with nemaline myopathy.