Muscular Dystrophies Flashcards
The term muscular dystrophy describes group of muscle disease that are _____ determined and have a steadily _____ degenerative course.
genetically
progressive
Duchenne muscular dystrophy occurs 1 in every 3,500 ____ births
male
Describe the genetic inheritance of DMD
the mutation is X-linked in that male offspring inherit the disease from their asymptomatic mothers
What gene is the mutation for DMD found?
dystrophin
What is the gold standard for determining a definitive diagnosis?
Muscle biopsy
When do the symptoms of DMD tend to arise?
between the ages of 2 to 5
What are the earliest symptoms of DMD?
- reluctance to walk or run at appropriate ages
- falling
- difficulty getting up off the floor
- toe-walking
- clumsiness
- pseudohypertrophy of the gastroc
Weakness is steadily progressive with ____ muscles weaker earlier on in the course of the illness
proximal
Weakness of the hip and knee extensors often results in what?
increase lumbar lordosis
The lordosis occurs in response to what?
the attempt to align the COG anerior to the fulcrum of the knee joint and posterior to the fulcrum of the hip joint in order to increase stability
Because the child tends to walk with a wide BOS they develop what kind of contracture?
ITB
______ sign is characterized by “climbing up the legs” when rising from the floor
Gower’s
What is the earliest contracture to develop?
plantarflexion at the ankle with inversion of the foot
Describe the general appearance of a boy with DMD
- shoulders and arms are held back while walking
- sway back
- belly sticks out
- weak glute max
- thin thighs
- knee hyperextension
- thick calves
- foot drop due to weak ant tib
- tight heel cords
When grading functional ability of the upper and lower extremities higher scores indicate ____ function
poorer
Scoliotic curves are generally not noticed until after the age of __ years
11
Why does scoliosis progress as the child ages?
the back muscles become weaker and the child spends less time standing and more time sitting
Once a child is confined to a w/c it is recommended that their caloric intake be reduced by __%
50
What happens as respiratory muscles atrophy?
coughs become ineffective leading to pulmonary infections
When are the first signs and symptoms of respiratory insufficiency seen?
with the inset of nocturnal hypoventilation typically in the 2nd decade of life
What are the symptoms of nocturnal hypoventilation?
- excessive fatigue
- daytime sleepiness
- morning headaches
- sleep disturbances
- feeling the need to gulp for air upon arousal
What are the symptoms when the GI tract becomes affected?
- constipation
- sudden episodes of vomiting
- abdominal pain
- abdominal distention
Constipation lead to the risk of what 2 things?
acute gastric dilation or intestinal pseudo-obstruction
When the heart muscle also becomes affected by a deficiency of dystrophin what are 3 potential results?
- cardiomyopathy
- arrhythmia
- CHF