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Start free with EleplanInfantile-onset X-linked spinal muscular atrophy
ORPHA:1145Disease
Also called SMAX2 · Spinal muscular atrophy with arthrogryposis · X-linked distal arthrogryposis multiplex congenita · X-linked spinal muscular atrophy type 2
What it is
A rare form of spinal muscular atrophy characterized by the neonatal onset of severe hypotonia, areflexia, profound weakness, multiple congenital contractures, facial dysmorphic features (myopathic face with open, tent-shaped mouth), cryptorchidism, and mild skeletal abnormalities (i.e. kyphosis, scoliosis), that is often preceded by polyhydramnios and reduced fetal movements in utero and followed by bone fractures shortly after birth. Muscle weakness is progressive and chest muscle involvement eventually leads to ventilatory insufficiency and respiratory failure.
Key facts
- Prevalence
- <1 / 1 000 000
- Age of onset
- Neonatal
- Inheritance
- X-linked recessive
- Classified as
- Disease
Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.
Signs and symptoms
Very common80–99%
7Common30–79%
18- Anarthria
- Ankle flexion contracture
- Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
- Bone fracture
- Cupped ribs
- Elbow flexion contracture
- Floppy infant
- High palate
- Hip contracture
- Inflammatory myopathy
- Interphalangeal joint contracture of finger
- Knee flexion contracture
- Myopathic facies
- Proximal muscle weakness
- Respiratory distress
- Respiratory insufficiency
- Short ribs
- Spinal muscular atrophy
These ranges are how often a sign appears across everyone diagnosed, not a prediction for one person — most people have some of these and not others. Orphanet also records findings that are specifically absent in this disease; those are in the data but not listed here.
Gene
ICD-10 codes
ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.
Related health topics
Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.
Benefit programs to look at
Programs whose eligibility touches the same ICD-10 categories. Eligibility is decided by the administering agency, never by this page.
Cross-references
Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999. Data version 2026-06-23. Available under CC BY 4.0. This is a reference, not medical advice.
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