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تعريف

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)

أسباب

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.

عوامل الخطر

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)

الأعراض

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)
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