Beevor's sign and facioscapulohumeral dystrophy
G. I. Awerbuch, M. A. Nigro and R. Wishnow
Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit 48201.
We have frequently observed that Beevor's sign was present in patients with
facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) but absent in patients with other
neuromuscular disorders. To determine the significance of this observation
we prospectively evaluated 30 patients with FSHD and 40 patients with other
neuromuscular disorders. Beevor's sign was present in 27 of 30 patients
with FSHD but absent in all 40 control patients. We conclude that Beevor's
sign is a common finding in patients with FSHD even before functional
weakness of abdominal wall muscles is apparent. Testing for Beevor's sign
is a simple screening test that may help in distinguishing FSHD from other
forms of facioscapulohumeral syndrome.
