Muscular Dystrophy: A Review

Muscular dystrophy is one of the rare diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles used during voluntary movement. There are many different types of muscular dystrophy based on the age of onset, severity and pattern of inheritance, of which duchenne and becker muscular dystrophies being more prevalent. The absence or abnormality of dystrophin, a protein which forms a complex with extracellular matrix to provide mechanical reinforcement to the structure of the sarcolemma and thereby protecting the membrane from the stress or tearing during contraction is the main cause of muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy can be diagnosed by blood & urine tests, muscle biopsies, DNA (genetic) testing, and diagnostic imaging and neurophysiology studies. Treatment includes various therapies such as respiratory therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, corrective surgery, drug therapy, and gene therapy.