Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves rapidly-worsening muscle weakness. Other muscular dystrophies (including Becker's muscular dystrophy) gets worse much more slowly.
Causes
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by a defective gene for dystrophin (a protein in the muscles). However, it often occurs in people without a known family history of the condition.
Because of the way the disease is inherited, males are more likely to develop symptoms than are women. The sons of females who are carriers of the disease (women with a defective gene but no symptoms themselves) each have a 50% chance of having the disease. The daughters each have a 50% chance of being carriers.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy occurs in approximately 1 out of every 3,600 male infants. Because this is an inherited disorder, risks include a family history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy. They may include:
- Fatigue
- Mental retardation (possible, but does not worsen over time)
- Muscle weakness
- Begins in the legs and pelvis, but also occurs less severely in the arms, neck and other areas of the body
- Difficulty with motor skills (running, hopping, jumping)
- Frequent falls
- Rapidly worsening weakness
- Progressive difficulty walking
- Ability to walk may be lost by age 12
By age 10, the person may need braces for walking. By age 12, most patients are confined to a wheelchair.
A complete nervous system (neurological), heart, lung and muscle exam may show:
- Abnormal heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Congestive heart failure or irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias) - rare
- Deformities of the chest and back (scoliosis)
- Enlarged calf muscles, which are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (pseudohypertrophy)
- Loss of muscle mass (wasting)
- Muscle contractures in the heels, legs
- Muscle deformities
- Respiratory disorders, including pneumonia and aspiration of food or fluid into the lungs (in late stages of the disease)
Tests may include:
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Genetic tests
- Muscle biopsy
- Serum CPK
There is no known cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Treatment aims to control symptoms to maximize quality of life. Gene therapy may become available in the future.
Activity is encouraged as inactivity (such as bedrest) can worsen the muscle disease. Physical therapy may be helpful to maintain muscle strength and function. Orthopedic appliances (such as braces and wheelchairs) may improve mobility and the ability to care for yourself.
Clinical trials in most cases involving the central nervous system have proved not only to be beneficial but at times even breathtaking.
Numerous clinical trials are going on all over the world, including India using stem cells from various sources.
We, at ReeCure offer you therapy using stem cells using our proprietary technology.
These stem cells could be of various types viz. Hematopoietic (CD 34+), Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are processed and isolated using Good Manufacturing (GMP) and Good Lab Practices (GLP) and in accordance with AABB standards.
After years of extensive research and systematic compilation and collation of relevant data (through its research division), ReeLabs is now supremely confident of not only reversing the disease process of the affected patient but also improving the quality of life manifold. Stem cells produced by ReeLabs are completely safe, non-toxic, easy to administer and totally devoid of side effects with an excellent probability of homing and engraftment with parent cell, tissue or organ. The eminent panel of scientists and researchers at ReeLabs work exhaustively to design accurate treatment protocols that have yielded excellent results in most cases.
Stem cells significantly improve nerve function in cases of Blindness and Deafness due to certain degenerative diseases.
These stem cells are procured from various sources including bone marrow, cord blood fat etc. as per the requirement of the patient.
The basic aim of stem cell therapy is to prolong life & improve the quality of life since no other treatment helps in muscular dystrophy.
Stem cell therapy has shown to form new muscle fibers & improve the strength of muscles.
Early treatment is advisable because stem cell therapy can prevent rapid deterioration of strength in muscles. Therapy also helps avoid patient’s dependence on support for walking & other activities.
Causes & Symptoms
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder that involves rapidly-worsening muscle weakness.
Causes
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rapidly-worsening form of muscular dystrophy. Other muscular dystrophies (including Becker's muscular dystrophy) gets worse much more slowly.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by a defective gene for dystrophin (a protein in the muscles). However, it often occurs in people without a known family history of the condition.
Because of the way the disease is inherited, males are more likely to develop symptoms than are women. The sons of females who are carriers of the disease (women with a defective gene but no symptoms themselves) each have a 50% chance of having the disease. The daughters each have a 50% chance of being carriers.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy occurs in approximately 1 out of every 3,600 male infants. Because this is an inherited disorder, risks include a family history of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear before age 6 and may appear as early as infancy. They may include:
- Fatigue
- Mental retardation (possible, but does not worsen over time)
- Muscle weakness
- Begins in the legs and pelvis, but also occurs less severely in the arms, neck and other areas of the body
- Difficulty with motor skills (running, hopping, jumping)
- Frequent falls
- Rapidly worsening weakness
- Progressive difficulty walking
- Ability to walk may be lost by age 12
By age 10, the person may need braces for walking. By age 12, most patients are confined to a wheelchair.
Medical Tests
A complete nervous system (neurological), heart, lung and muscle exam may show:
- Abnormal heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Congestive heart failure or irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias) - rare
- Deformities of the chest and back (scoliosis)
- Enlarged calf muscles, which are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (pseudohypertrophy)
- Loss of muscle mass (wasting)
- Muscle contractures in the heels, legs
- Muscle deformities
- Respiratory disorders, including pneumonia and aspiration of food or fluid into the lungs (in late stages of the disease)
Tests may include:
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Genetic tests
- Muscle biopsy
- Serum CPK
Conventional Treatment
There is no known cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Treatment aims to control symptoms to maximize quality of life. Gene therapy may become available in the future.
Activity is encouraged as inactivity (such as bedrest) can worsen the muscle disease. Physical therapy may be helpful to maintain muscle strength and function. Orthopedic appliances (such as braces and wheelchairs) may improve mobility and the ability to care for yourself.
Clinical trials in most cases involving the central nervous system have proved not only to be beneficial but at times even breathtaking.
Stem Cell Therapy
Numerous clinical trials are going on all over the world, including India using stem cells from various sources.
We, at ReeCure offer you therapy using stem cells using our proprietary technology.
These stem cells could be of various types viz. Hematopoietic (CD 34+), Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are processed and isolated using Good Manufacturing (GMP) and Good Lab Practices (GLP) and in accordance with AABB standards.
After years of extensive research and systematic compilation and collation of relevant data (through its research division), ReeLabs is now supremely confident of not only reversing the disease process of the affected patient but also improving the quality of life manifold. Stem cells produced by ReeLabs are completely safe, non-toxic, easy to administer and totally devoid of side effects with an excellent probability of homing and engraftment with parent cell, tissue or organ. The eminent panel of scientists and researchers at ReeLabs work exhaustively to design accurate treatment protocols that have yielded excellent results in most cases.
Stem cells significantly improve nerve function in cases of Blindness and Deafness due to certain degenerative diseases.
These stem cells are procured from various sources including bone marrow, cord blood fat etc. as per the requirement of the patient.
The basic aim of stem cell therapy is to prolong life & improve the quality of life since no other treatment helps in muscular dystrophy.
Stem cell therapy has shown to form new muscle fibers & improve the strength of muscles.
Early treatment is advisable because stem cell therapy can prevent rapid deterioration of strength in muscles. Therapy also helps avoid patient’s dependence on support for walking & other activities.
