Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease characterized by progressive deterioration of muscles. Muscle atrophy* may cause disability. The defective gene comes from the mother. Because the defective gene, the rate of a protein called dystrophin, is very low, which weakens the muscle membrane to the disability. There are five forms of muscular dystrophy, the commonest being pseudohypertrophy Duchenne dystrophy.

1. A small percentage of people with the infant Duchenne dystrophy will leave after adolescence. Death is usually caused by an infection of the lungs or heart failure. This Duchenne only affects men.

2. People with Becker dystrophy often live up to the age of 60 years.

3. A third form of dystrophy is myotonia. Myotonia is characterized by affection of the feet and hands only. The muscles are able to shrink, but struggle to relax. The disease can eventually reach other organs.

4. The girdle muscular dystrophy affects the muscles above the waist. The disease usually begins in adolescence and affects both sexes. Life expectancy is normal.

5. The myopathy facio-scapulohumeral affects both sexes and begins between the ages of 10 and 40 years, most often in adolescence. Only the muscles of the face, shoulders and arms are affected. Over time, it becomes difficult to move the arms and sometimes the ankles.

There is no cure for muscular dystrophy. The doctor aims to improve the quality of life of patients and longer life expectancy.


Prevention

A couple with a family history of muscular dystrophy should perform a blood test in order to assess the risk of having a child with the disease.

02 mai 2010

The text above is for information purposes only. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease. No treatment (medication or scheme) should be undertaken without consulting a health professional.