Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41513898›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2026

Heterogeneous phenotype and cardiovascular comorbidities in Swedish patients with spinobulbar muscular atrophy.

Anna-Karin Roos, Simon Forsberg, Erica Stenvall, Peter M Andersen, Per Zetterström, Angelica Nordin, Karin M E Forsberg

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Anna-Karin RoosDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90184, Umeå, Sweden. anna-karin.roos@regionjh.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4871-3010
Simon ForsbergDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90184, Umeå, Sweden.
Erica StenvallDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8507-0303
Peter M AndersenDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90184, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0094-5429
Per ZetterströmDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8718-3249
Angelica NordinDepartment of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7703-647X
Karin M E ForsbergDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90184, Umeå, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2911-6026

Funding

Hjärnfonden FO 2022-0309Hjärnfonden FO2023-0088Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse 2012.0091Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse 2014.0305Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse 2020.0232Neuroförbundet F2021-0044Region Jämtland Härjedalen . JLL-980693Ulla-Carin Lindquists stiftelse för ALS-forskning 2023.10Ulla-Carin Lindquists stiftelse för ALS-forskning 2023.16Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-1014212Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV56103-7002829Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-939329Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-941598Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-993493Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-996140Västerbotten Läns Landsting RV-996234Vetenskapsrådet 2012-3167Vetenskapsrådet 2017-03100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder characterized by adult-onset progressive muscle atrophy, flaccid paresis, and bulbar palsy. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that SBMA is a multisystem disorder with prominent non-motor symptoms, such as sensory neuropathy, androgen insensitivity, and glucose intolerance. This study aimed to further characterize the clinical manifestations and biomarker profile in a large Swedish SBMA cohort.

methods49 genetically confirmed SBMA patients were identified from a motor neuron disease database at Umeå University Hospital, Sweden. CAG repeat length in the androgen receptor (AR) gene was assessed by RP-PCR. Blood samples were analyzed for cardiovascular and muscle biomarkers. Clinical data were collected from medical records and interviews, with autopsy findings reviewed in two cases.

resultsThe mean CAG repeat length was 43.1, with a mean age at motor symptom onset of 58.6 years. Notably, 19% of patients initially presented with sensory symptoms. High prevalence of hypertonia (70%), diabetes mellitus (39%), and cardiac disease (38%) was observed. Elevated troponin levels were common, and pNfL (neurofilament light chain in plasma) was elevated in seven patients, likely reflecting combined cerebrovascular and cardiovascular comorbidity. Importantly, two of these seven patients exhibited rapid disease progression, and a concomitant diagnosis of ALS was confirmed histopathologically. DISCUSSION: This cohort was characterized by a relatively low number of AR gene CAG repeats and a late onset of motor symptoms. Sensory symptoms frequently occurred before motor decline. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes were common comorbidities and, in some cases, preceded neurological symptoms. These findings underscore the need for improved clinical awareness of the heterogeneous presentation of SBMA and support routine cardiovascular monitoring to reduce diagnostic delays and prevent early mortality.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesDiabetes MellitusAdultAgedBulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-LinkedCohort StudiesComorbidityFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeurofilament ProteinsPhenotypeReceptors, AndrogenSwedenneurofilament protein LNeurofilament ProteinsReceptors, AndrogenCardiovascular diseaseMotor neuron diseaseNeurofilament light chainPhenotypeSpinobulbar muscular atrophy

Identifiers

PMID41513898
PMCPMC12789218

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.