Stem Cell Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy in Turkey
Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a category of over 30 genetic disorders, exhibiting progressive muscle degeneration that causes muscle weakness. The expression ‘dystrophy’ comes from the Greek word ‘dys,’ meaning ‘difficult’ or ‘faulty’ and ‘troph,’ meaning ‘to eat.’ Muscular dystrophy thus implies a defective muscle production or development, or muscle destruction.
There are nine major forms of muscular dystrophy:
|
Types of Muscular Dystrophies |
Age of Onset |
Signs & Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
|
Duchenne (DMD) |
2 to 6 years (most severe form of Muscular Dystrophy) |
Generalised muscle weakness in all voluntary muscles ,Gower’s sign positive (patient makes use of his hands to climb up on his body while getting up from floor), frequent falls while walking, poor balance in standing & walking. |
|
Becker’s (BMD) |
Adolescence to early adulthood |
-Identical to Duchenne, but less severe; |
|
Limb-girdle (LGMD) |
Late childhood to middle age |
-Hip & shoulder muscle weakness |
|
Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) |
Childhood to early adulthood |
-Facial muscle weakness (eyelid drooping, inability to whistle, decreased facial expression) |
|
Myotonic (DM) |
20-40 years |
-Weakness of all muscle groups accompanied by delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction |
|
Congenital (CMD) |
Since birth |
-General muscle weakness |
|
Oculopharyngeal (OPMD) |
40-70 years |
-Affect muscles of eyelids and throat causing weakening of throat muscles, which, in time, causes inability to swallow and emaciation from lack of food |
|
Distal (DD) |
40-60 years |
-Weakness and wasting of muscles of the hands, forearms, and lower legs |
|
Emery-Dreifuss (EDMD) |
Chilhood to early teens |
-Weakness and wasting of shoulder, upper arm, and shin muscles |
