NMD Part 2 Flashcards
what are muscular dystrophies
group of hereditary ms dz that weaken (primarily) skeletal ms of body
what are muscular dystrophies characterized by (3)
- progressive skeletal ms weakness
- defects in ms proteins
- death of ms cells & tissue
what is the prevalence of muscular dystrophies in childhood
comprises largest and most common group of inherited progressive neuromuscular disorders of childhood
what is the genetic inheritance of duchenne muscular dystrophy
x-linked recessive
what is the typical onset of duchenne muscular dystrophy
1-5yo
what is the course of the dz for duchenne muscular dystrophy
rapidly progressive
loss of walking typically by 9-10yo
death in late teens
what are 3 primary s/sx of muscular dystrophies
- insidious onset of ms weakness
- ms fatigue
- exercise intolerance
what are 5 secondary impairments of muscular dystrophies
- contractures
- postural malalignment, including scoliosis
- changes in appetite
- pain
- sleep apnea
what are 4 additional s/sx of muscular dystrophies
- ms cramping/pain
- ms twitching/fasciculations
- ms wasting (atrophy vs pseudohypertrophy)
- hypotonia
why does ms cramping occur in muscular dystrophies
contractile properties of these ms are changed and inefficient and ineffective
where will we expect to see contractures in muscular dystrophies and why
hip flexors & hamstrings
- if dec strength, sitting a lot
gastroc/PF
- lying in supine, gravity pushes into PF
what is the incidence of duchenne’s in males vs females
primarily in males bc linked to X
rare for females to manifest clinical sx
- if they do it’s very mild
what is the pathophysiology of DMD
mutation in dystrophin gene -> 1 or more exons (part of gene) are missing
what is the role of dystrophin in cells
mechanical stabilization of cell membrane
what does the mutation in the dystrophin gene result in
ms cell destruction d/t abnormal or missing dystrophin & its effect on the cell membrane
-> progressive loss of ms contractility d/t destruction of myofibrils
how many cases of DMD are new mutations
1/3
if the mom is a carrier of DMD, what is the risk for her son or her daughter of having DMD
son - 50% chance of inheriting DMD
daughter - 50% chance of being a carrier
- carrier may be mildly affected
what is the inheritance of BMD
x-linked recessive
BMD vs DMD in pathophys
BMD has same gene affected but some dystrophin is present
BMD course of dz compared to DMD
less severe and more slowly progressing than DMD
avg age of sx onset is later than DMD
amb longer (20s-30s) and longer lifespan than DMD
what is one clinical manifestation that is more common in BMD than DMD
cardiac myopathy
what are lab tests used to diagnose both DMD and BMD
CK values (high)
ms biopsies
- detect degen/regen of ms fibers, fibrosis, & fatty infiltrates
blood tests - detect mutation of dystrophin gene
why are blood tests a better option than ms biopsies
ms biopsies - damage ms that is already fragile
what is Gower’s sign
so weak that use hands to walk up legs to push up to stand and then stand up to lumbar lordosis