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

A rare inherited muscle condition with slowly worsening weakness, starting from infancy to childhood.

Understanding Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2U

Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2U is a rare inherited muscle condition with weakness in the shoulder and hip muscles.

It starts in infancy or childhood and slowly gets worse. Children may use their hands to push up from the floor (Gowers sign). Joints and Achilles tendons can tighten, and the thighs, calves, or tongue can become larger. Brain, heart, and eye features vary widely.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Weakness in shoulder and hip muscles
  • Muscle wasting
  • Enlarged calf muscles
  • Enlarged tongue (macroglossia)
  • Changes in how a protein (alpha-dystroglycan) is processed
  • Heart differences (cardiovascular)

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 and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in CRPPA 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

    The Speak Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: The Speak 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 The Speak Foundation
  • 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 CRPPA gene confirm the diagnosis?
Should my child have heart, eye, and brain checks?
Which therapies can help with stiff joints and tendons?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startInfant and as a Child
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesCRPPA

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

GeneticNeurologicalInherited Metabolic

Also known as: autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy due to ispd deficiency; autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2u; autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy caused by mutation in ispd; autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy due to ispd deficiency; ispd autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy; ispd-related lgmd r20

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2UGARD ID 17519 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

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