Becker's muscular dystrophy is a chronic generative disease of the muscles that occurs in childhood between 8 and 20 years of age. It produces the same symptoms as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is sometimes referred to as benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. It is transmitted by an X- linked recessive trait. Symptoms of the disorder include slow, but progressive weakening of the pelvic and leg muscles, resulting in frequent falls, difficulty in climbing stairs, difficulty in getting up from the floor, and an awkward gait. Although there is no cure, treatment of physical therapy and orthopedic devices are much more successful than with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Patients often survive to reach middle to late adulthood. Research Becker's Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, and is transmitted by an X-linked recessive trait. Only males are affected and only females are carriers that pass the trait on. The disorder cannot be detected by amniocentesis. It affects about 1 in 10,000 boys. Symptoms of the disorder begin to appear in early childhood between the ages of two to six years. The pelvic and leg muscles are affected first. The child is slow in learning to sit up and walk. Progressive and rapid weakening of the muscles results in frequent falls, difficulty in climbing stairs, difficulty in getting up from the floor, and an awkward gait. Sometimes a curvature of the spine is associated with the disorder. Despite their weakness, the muscles appear unusually large and firm (psuedohypertrophy). At about early adolescence affected children are no longer able to walk. Children with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy are prone to chest infections and heart disorders due to progressive weakening of those muscles. Few sufferers survive into their teenage
years. Research Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (Landouzy-Dejerine), is almost as common as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern by both sexes and occurs in late adolescence. It is characterised by progressive and symmetrical weakening of the muscles, especially the muscles of the face, the shoulders, and the upper arms. Early symptoms include the inability to pucker the lips, abnormal facial movements when laughing or crying, and the inability to raise the arms above the head. Curvature of the spine is associated with some cases of fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy causing a winged appearance of the scapulae. Research Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Becker's Muscular Dystrophy
