Blog 2 Mm Disease

Muscle Disease: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

       Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a muscle disease. It is a genetic disorder that causes muscles to degenerate and become weakened. It occurs primarily in males and is very rare in females. It causes atrophy to the skeletal and heart muscles. DMD is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, which affects the protein dystrophin. Dystrophin is found in the heart and skeletal muscles, so the DMD gene causes the protein to not function correctly, resulting in the muscles atrophying. DMD is X-linked recessive, but it can also occur in people who have no family history of DMD. There is no cure for DMD, but there are medications to help treat the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Steriods are used to increase the strength and function of the muscles, and eteplirsen is used treat people with DMD. Deflazacort can also be used to treat DMD.