Disease name

Kennedy disease
 Kennedy disease

Marker gene

Gene symbol Chromosome location Protein name
AR Xq12 Androgen receptor

Prevalence

1-9 / 100 000

Inheritance

X 연관 열성

Age of onset

성인기

ICD 10 code

G12.2

MIM number

313200

Synonym

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy
X-linked bulbospinal amyotrophy

Summary

Kennedy disease is a progressive neuromuscular disorder in which degeneration of the lower motor neurons results in proximal muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and fasciculations. It occurs only in males. The estimated prevalence in the European population is around 1 in 36 000. Patients often show gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, and reduced fertility due to androgen insensitivity. Kennedy disease is inherited as an X-linked recessive trait. The diagnosis is based on the evidence of an expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat (> 38 CAGs) in the androgen receptor gene on the X chromosome.