Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Introduction: Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Death of spinal motor neurons and subsequent muscle paralysis characterize Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a hereditary neuromuscular disorder that is the most common ... more about Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A rare condition characterized by progressive degeneration of the spinal and brainstem motor neurons. During fetal development excess primary neurons are formed. The body automatically destroys the extra primary neurons so that only some survive and mature into neurons. In spinal muscular dystrophy, the process that destroys the excess primary neurons doesn't switch off and continues destroying the neurons resulting in progressive motor problems. Various types of the condition range from mild to severe enough to cause death within a couple of years of birth. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Spinal Muscular Atrophy is available below.

Symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

• Muscle weakness
• Muscle atrophy
• Leg weakness
• Lack of muscle tone
• Weakness

See full list of 36 symptoms of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Medical Textbooks Online about Spinal Muscular Atrophy

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

Wrongly Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

• Misdiagnosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Causes of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Read more about causes of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

• Symptomatic and supportive
• Pneumonia treatments
• Scoliosis treatments
• Treatments for respiratory infections
• Physical therapy

See full list of 8 treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

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Prognosis for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Prognosis for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The prognosis for individuals with SMA varies depending on the type of SMA and the degree of respiratory function. Some may appear to be stable for protracted periods, but improvement is not to be expected. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Spinal Muscular Atrophy Information Page: NINDS)

More about prognosis of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Reseach about Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Visit our research pages for current research about Spinal Muscular Atrophy treatments.

Clinical Trials for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

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 Spinal Muscular Atrophy include:

• A Pilot Therapeutic Trial Using Hydroxyurea in Type II and III Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Hydroxyurea
• A Pilot Therapeutic Trial Using Hydroxyurea in Type I Spinal Muscular Atrophy - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Hydroxyurea
• Phase II Study of Leuprolide and Testosterone for Men With Kennedy's Disease or Other Motor Neuron Disease - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - leuprolide,testosterone
• Measuring Levels of SMN in Blood Samples of SMA Patients - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Levetiracetam for Cramps, Spasticity and Neuroprotection in Motor Neuron Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Levetiracetam

See full list of 10 Clinical Trials for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Statistics for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

• Medical statistics for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Death and Mortality statistics for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Society statistics for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Types of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

• Spinal Muscular Atrophy type I
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy type II
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy type III
• Kennedy syndrome
• Congenital SMA with arthrogryposis

See full list of 6 Types of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

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Article Excerpts about Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology (Excerpt)

Death of spinal motor neurons and subsequent muscle paralysis characterize Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a hereditary neuromuscular disorder that is the most common genetic cause of childhood fatality. (Source: Genes and Disease by the National Center for Biotechnology)

NINDS Spinal Muscular Atrophy Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic, motor neuron disease characterized by wasting of the skeletal muscles caused by progressive degeneration of the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The disorder causes weakness and atrophy of the voluntary muscles. Weakness is often more severe in the legs than in the arms. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Spinal Muscular Atrophy Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Spinal Muscular Atrophy:

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

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Spinal Muscular Atrophy as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet