Distal Muscular Dystrophy: Risk Factors

Distal muscular dystrophy does not discriminate against age, race or gender. There are risk factors which can increase a person’s chances of developing distal muscular dystrophy and these include; family history of muscular dystrophy and gender, with makes being at a higher risk than females of developing MD, particularly, Duchenne and Becker dystrophies.

Distal Muscular Dystrophy: Treatment

Diagnosing any type of MD can be very difficult. Normally, a doctor will start by taking a patient and family history and doing a physical examination. 

A physician wishes to determine if the person’s symptoms are the result from a muscular problem or a nerve issue. Problems with the nerves that control muscles or motor nerves, originate in the spinal cord and branch out to reach all the muscles, can result in weakness that can appear like a muscle issue but really is not.

Usually, the origin of muscle weakness can be identified by doing a physical examination.  Sometimes special tests called nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) are performed. These tests are performed by using electricity and very fine needles to stimulate and assess each individual nerve or muscle. An EMG is uncomfortable, but a person should not severe pain.

Sometimes a blood test called a CK level will be ordered by a physician early in the diagnostic process. CK is short for creatine kinase, which is an enzyme that leaks from damaged muscles. If a person’s creatine kinase levels are abnormal, a doctor will probably order a muscle biopsy (surgical excision of tissue for diagnostic purposes). By sending a sample of muscle tissue off to a lab for examination, doctors can determine a great deal about what is going on with the tissue.

Other tests can also be performed on the muscle biopsy. The correlation between missing proteins in muscle tissue and genetic issues is not foolproof. 

Genetic tests can be done to analyze a person’s genes for particular defects which cause muscular dystrophy. Genetic tests can help predict the likely course of the disease and may help families who want to reduce the risk of passing on MD to the next generation.

Prognosis

Most types of muscular dystrophy are progressive and will grow worse over time. However, the age of onset and rate the disease progresses will vary from person to person. Some types, but not all, of these disorders can affect a person’s life expectancy. In many cases, advanced medical research will allow treating the symptoms of MD and will likely increase the risk of a decreased life expectancy.

See Also: Stone Man Syndrome: What Is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)?

Distal muscular dystrophy is an inherited, genetic disease. With proper care and treatment options, the prognosis for distal muscular dystrophy improves all the time. Because of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s research programs, continuing strides are made towards better treatment options and hopefully someday a cure.