Definition | Causes | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Prevention

Definition

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited, progressive muscle disorders. All forms cause progressive weakness and degeneration of the muscles that control movement. Some also affect the heart or other organs. Age of onset is between infancy to adulthood. The different forms include:

  • Duchenne dystrophy (the most common)
  • Becker (a milder form than Duchenne)
  • Myotonic muscular dystrophy (can have its onset in late adulthood)

Causes

This condition is caused by defects in genes that control muscle development and function. In some cases, the genes are passed from parent to child. In other cases, the genetic mutation occurs spontaneously.

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing muscular dystrophy. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

  • Family member with muscular dystrophy
  • Sex: male for some types (Duchenne and Becker)

Symptoms

Symptoms common to most forms of muscular dystrophy may include:

Initial symptoms:

  • Progressive weakening of muscles—Usually, those muscles closest to the trunk become weak first. Then, muscles further away weaken as the disease advances.
  • Enlargement of muscles as they weaken
  • Clumsiness
  • Frequent falling and difficulty getting up

Later symptoms:

  • Severe muscle deterioration, usually leading to use of a wheelchair
  • Distortion of the body
  • Muscle contraction and stiffening (often severe)
  • Difficulty breathing

Severe Muscle Contraction of the Hand

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Symptoms specific to Duchenne and Becker dystrophy include:

Symptoms specific to myotonic muscular dystrophy include:

  • Difficulty in letting go after a handshake
  • Muscle weakness that affects the central nervous system, heart, digestive tract, glands, or eyes

Symptoms usually become progressively worse. In many forms, life expectancy is shortened.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam.

Tests may include:

Treatment

There is no cure. However, treatment may help improve the symptoms.

Treatment may consist of:

Physical therapy and exercise can help prevent the muscles from permanently contracting and stiffening.

In earlier stages, wearing braces may improve your ability to move around. A back brace may slow curvature of the spine.

Medicines may include:

Much research is being done in this area. A new technique called “gene transfer” therapy has been used with some good early results in certain forms of dystrophy.

In severe cases, surgery may be needed to release muscles that are painfully tight. If there are heart problems, a pacemaker may be needed.

Prevention

Muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease. Get genetic counseling if you are concerned about having a child with muscular dystrophy, especially if you:

  • Have muscular dystrophy or a family history of the disease
  • May be a carrier of the gene for muscular dystrophy
  • Have a partner with a family history of the disease