Functional exercise capacity, strength, balance and motion reaction time in Barth syndrome

Background Barth syndrome (BTHS) is an X-linked disorder caused by defects in TAZ with key clinical features including cardiomyopathy, neutropenia and skeletal myopathy. In order to gain a better understanding of the range of clinical features, identify targets for monitoring, and increase knowledge of natural history of the disease, we conducted muscle strength testing, functional exercise capacity testing, physical activity assessment, balance assessment and motion reaction time testing in 33 affected individuals and 14 controls. We analyzed data points to provide a cross-sectional quantitative spectrum of disease characteristics. We also compared these data points to the matched data points collected two years prior to provide insight into effects of BTHS over time.