Muscular Dystrophy

Introduction: Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy: Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscles ... more about Muscular Dystrophy.

Muscular Dystrophy: Any of various muscle wasting diseases. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Muscular Dystrophy is available below.

Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy

• Gait problems
• Waddling gait
• Falls
• Difficulty standing up
• Difficulting climbing stairs

See full list of 10 symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy

Medical Textbooks Online about Muscular Dystrophy

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Muscular Dystrophy

• Muscle biopsy
• Electromyography

Read more about tests for Muscular Dystrophy

Causes of Muscular Dystrophy

Read more about causes of Muscular Dystrophy.

Treatments for Muscular Dystrophy

• Supportive treatments
• Physiotherapy
• Massage
• Orthopedic supports
• Prednisone

Read more about treatments for Muscular Dystrophy

Videos for Muscular Dystrophy

Patient Surveys for Muscular Dystrophy

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• Survey about the symptoms of your Muscular Dystrophy
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Prognosis for Muscular Dystrophy

Prognosis for Muscular Dystrophy: The prognosis of MD varies according to the type of MD and the progression of the disorder. Some cases may be mild and very slowly progressive, with normal lifespan, while other cases may have more marked progression of muscle weakness, functional disability and loss of ambulation. Life expectancy may depend on the degree of progression and late respiratory deficit. In Duchenne MD, death usually occurs in the late teens to early 20s. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Muscular Dystrophy (MD) Information Page: NINDS)

More about prognosis of Muscular Dystrophy

Reseach about Muscular Dystrophy

Visit our research pages for current research about Muscular Dystrophy treatments.

Clinical Trials for Muscular Dystrophy

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Muscular Dystrophy include:

• Molecular Analysis of Patients With Neuromuscular Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study Evaluating MYO-029 in Adult Muscular Dystrophy - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - MYO-029
• Gentamicin Treatment of Muscular Dystrophy - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Myotonic Dystrophy and Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy Registry - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Phase III Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Prednisone for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - prednisone

See full list of 29 Clinical Trials for Muscular Dystrophy

Statistics for Muscular Dystrophy

• Medical statistics for Muscular Dystrophy
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Muscular Dystrophy
• Death and Mortality statistics for Muscular Dystrophy
• Society statistics for Muscular Dystrophy

Types of Muscular Dystrophy

• Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy - most common type of MD in adults
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - most common type in children
• Becker Muscular Dystrophy - a milder form of Duchenne MD
• Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy
• Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

See full list of 10 Types of Muscular Dystrophy

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Article Excerpts about Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscles which control movement. The muscles of the heart and some other involuntary muscles are also affected in some forms of MD, and a few forms involve other organs as well. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Muscular Dystrophy (MD) Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Muscular Dystrophy:

An autosomal dominant degenerative muscle disease characterized by slowly progressive weakness of the muscles of the face, upper-arm, and shoulder girdle. The onset of symptoms usually occurs in the first or second decade of life. Affected individuals usually present with impairment of upper extremity elevation. This tends to be followed by facial weakness, primarily involving the orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi muscles. (Neuromuscul Disord 1997;7(1):55-62; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1420) - (Source - Diseases Database)

Any of several hereditary diseases of the muscular system characterized by weakness and wasting of skeletal muscles - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Muscular Dystrophy is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Muscular Dystrophy, or a subtype of Muscular Dystrophy, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)