MD - Myopathies Flashcards
Most common of childhood mm diseases
MD
Genetic origin
Progressive mm wasting, weakness, disability
Types of MD
Duchenne (pseudohypertrophic) Becker Facioscapulohumeral Limb Girdle Oculopharyngeal
Epidemiology
Only in boys
Typically identified by around age 3.
1/3500 male births
Prognosis
Death usually by late teens
25% live to 21 years
Death usually due to cardiac/pulmonary effects
DMD is the most common fatal childhood genetic disorder.
DMD - caused by
Absence of the protein dystrophin
Pathophys - MD
Gene on X chromosome is defective
Dystrophin gene is one of the largest known human genes.
Codes for many different proteins, including dystrophin
What is dystrophin
Dystrophin is a filamentous cytoskeletal protein
Binds actin and sarcolemmal cytoskeleton to basement membrane via Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex (DGC)
Lack of dystrophin — means what
No DGC
Dystrophin is present where
Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth mm
Dystrophin functions
exact function in healthy muscle and the mechanism(s) of effect associated with dystrophic muscle are still unclear.
Structural and Cell Signaling
Dystrophin functions - Structural
force transmission from sarcomeres to extracellular connective tissue.
Dec DGC leads to force transmission causing structural damage
Dystrophin functions - cell signaling
nNOS – NO production increases skeletal muscle blood flow
Dec NO leads to ischemic injury
Ion channel function
DMD - fibers become damaged when
Producing force
Sarcolemma damage leads to Ca infiltration and then tissue destruction via Ca activated proteinases
Elevated serum levels of mm proteins (CPK)
Poor tolerance of eccentric contractions
DMD - repeated cycles of
Degeneration and regeneration over time
Net degeneration over time; replaced by fat and connective tissue
Muscle nucleii become centralized.
Variation in fiber size
DMD - Clinical Manifestations - initial effects where
Pelvic girdle
Weakness - waddling gait
DMD - Clinical manifestations
Gower sign (weak glutes and low back) Toe walking (weak DF) Contractures
DMD - Clinical manifestations - Pulmonary
Kyphoscoliosis: humped upper spine + scoliosis
Deterioration of pulmonary musculature
Effects accelerate with eventual wheelchair use.
DMD - Clinical manifestations - Cardiac
50% heart failure
95% some cardiac involvement
DMD - Clinical manifestations - GI
constipation
gastric dilation
DMD - Clinical manifestations - Intellectual
80% have some intellectual disability
Mean IQ = 80
Dystrophin present in brain tissue
DMD - Clinical manifestations - Pseudohypertrophy
Connective tissue and fat replace muscle tissue
DMD - medical management
No cure
Goal is to maintain mm function or as long as possible
DMD - medical management - exercise
Mild exercise helps maintain muscle
Aquatic exercise – concentric only
Hard exercise may exacerbate muscle damage, especially with eccentric contractions.
DMD - medical management - meds
Anti inflammatory drugs
Prednisone - inc strength, dec rate of disease progression
Deflazacort - less side effects