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Living with Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E

An inherited muscle condition that weakens the hip and shoulder muscles, starting in childhood or the teen years.

Understanding Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E

Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2E, also called beta-sarcoglycan-related LGMD R4, is a muscle condition that affects the pelvic and shoulder muscles.

It usually starts in childhood or adolescence, and the muscles around the hips are affected most. Knees are often the earliest and most affected. Later the shoulder girdle and the muscles of the hands and feet can be involved. Other features can include enlarged calves, heart muscle disease, breathing problems, stiff joints, and scoliosis.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Weakness in the hip muscles
  • Waddling, wide-based walk
  • Gowers sign (using hands to push up from the floor)
  • Enlarged calf muscles
  • Muscle disease (myopathy)
  • Delayed speech and language

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, genetic specialists and heart and blood vessel specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in SGCB are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Speak Foundation and Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Heart and blood vessel specialists (cardiologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Speak Foundation, Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Muscular Dystrophy Association and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Can genetic testing for the SGCB gene confirm the diagnosis?
How often should my heart and breathing be checked?
Can therapy help with stiff joints or scoliosis?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startChild and as a Teenager
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesSGCB

It is caused by changes in the SGCB gene. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

GeneticNeurological

Also known as: autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2e; autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy caused by mutation in sgcb; beta-sarcoglycan-related lgmd r4; beta-sarcoglycan-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy r4; lgmd due to beta-sarcoglycan deficiency; lgmd type 2e

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2EGARD ID 3851 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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