Myopathies Flashcards
What is myopathy?
Disease of voluntary muscle
What is myositis?
Inflammation of voluntary muscle
What are muscular dystrophies?
Inherited disorders of muscle cells
What are channelopathies?
Ion channel disorders of muscle cells
What is the predominant feature of muscle disease?
Weakness
What muscle problems can occur in Cushing’s syndrome?
Proximal myopathy
What myopathies occur in thyroid disease?
- Severe proximal myopathy - Thyrotoxicosis
- Myasthenia gravis - thyrotoxicosis
- Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis
How would you distinguish clinically between neuropathy and myopathy?
Myopathy:
- More gradual onset symmetric proximal weakness
- Specific muscle groups affected
- Preserved tendon reflexes
- No paraesthesiae
- No fasciculations
What might an acute onset of features of myopathy suggest in terms of the cause?
- Toxic
- Drug
- Metabolic
- Neuropathy
What might spontaneous pain at rest suggest in someone with features of myopathy?
Inflammatory cause
What investigation would you do if you suspected someone had a myopathy?
- Bloods - ESR, CK, AST, LDH
- EMG
- Muscle biopsy
- Genetic testing
What are features of myopathy on EMG?
Short duration, polyphasic action potentials. Sometimes there may also be spontaneous fibrillation
What is Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGOmN6rnsNk
Muscular dystrophy caused by absence of dystrophin, a protein normally present at the interface between the cytoplasm and the muscle cell membrane. Disruption of the cell membrane leads to uncontrolled entry of calcium into the cell.
How is duchenne muscular dystrophy passed on?
X-linked recessive
What are features of duchenne muscular dystrophy?
Around age 4:
- Difficulty running
- Clumsy walking
- Difficulty standing
- Gowers sign
- Calf pseudohypertrophy
- Respiratory failure