279th ENMC international workshop: Classification, clinical care, outcome measures and biomarkers in childhood onset facioscapulohumeral dystrophy: towards standardizing clinical care and ensuring clinical trial readiness. Hoofddorp, The Netherlands,

The 279th ENMC workshop on childhood-onset facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) was held on November 1-3, 2024. The workshop aimed to standardize classification based on disease severity, address implications for clinical trials and patient access, and improve clinical management of children and adolescents with FSHD. Key priorities included establishing a working party to address knowledge gaps in clinical management and outcome measures, defining a standardized minimal dataset in both research and clinical environments, and enhancing pharmaceutical engagement. Childhood-onset FSHD presents a spectrum, from early-onset progressive cases to later adolescent onset with a classical phenotype. Standardized care, including psychological support and transition planning, is needed. Challenges in trial design, such as disease heterogeneity and ethical considerations, were highlighted. Consensus that childhood-onset FSHD forms part of a disease continuum was reached. Two task forces were established to define minimal outcome measure datasets and paediatric-specific care guidelines, marking a crucial step toward improved clinical care and trial readiness.