Muscular Dystrophy: Causes, Types, Diagnosis, Management and Stem Cell Therapy

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) occurs because of genetic mutations. The disease causes progressive weakening of muscles and their loss. The group of diseases that form the muscular dystrophy disease-group, hampers locomotion and also weakens the body’s musculoskeletal system. Stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy is the new hope for a number people who suffer from this disease.

Symptoms and Signs Relating to Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is evident in the form of symptoms and signs like:

• Poor balance
• Progressive weakening and wasting of muscles
• Deformation within the calf
• Curvature of back and spine or scoliosis
• Limited movements
• Difficulty in respiration

Cause of Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is often inherited. A spontaneous mutation or a genetic X-linked disorder can also cause muscular dystrophy.

The protein Dystrophin is found within the fibrous membrane of muscles. This protein has a helical nature and can absorb shocks. When the genetic abnormality causes unavailability of this protein, muscular dystrophy occurs, as the muscles fail to absorb shocks and deteriorate progressively.

Different Types of Muscular Dystrophies

Muscular dystrophy can take varying forms and types, and some forms of the disease have more severe symptom manifestations than the others. Also, different MD forms affect different parts of the body. The different types of muscular dystrophies include Becker, Congenital, Duchene, Distal, Emery-Dreifuss, Facioscapulohumeral, Limb-Girdle, Myotonic and Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Diagnosis

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) can be diagnosed through genetic testing, muscle biopsy, electromyography, and by knowing the levels of enzyme creatinine phosphokinase (higher levels of the enzyme point out towards the occurrence of the disease). As different muscle groups may be affected by different types/kinds of muscular dystrophies, a physical examination conducted by the physician finds out precisely which type of MD form is affecting the child/patient.

Management of Muscular Dystrophy

Before the introduction of stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy, there were no therapeutic procedures that could address the root cause of the problem. For managing the disease, measures like occupational therapy, physical therapy and orthotics intervention (for instance foot Orthoses) are used. Speech therapy is used for improving the speech and vocal aspects, while respiratory therapy is used for easing respiration. Medications that are used for improving muscle tone include Deflazacort, Prednisolone and anabolic steroids. Sometimes orthopedic surgery is required for improving the quality of lives of patients. Some forms of muscular dystrophy like the Myotonic MD can be corrected by using a pacemaker.

Occupational therapy helps children and patients with MD to enjoy a more independent life and makes them self-sufficient for carrying on with day-to-day tasks. Occupational therapy can also bring in positive cognition and provides for better psychological changes.

Stem Cell Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy

Stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy is a relatively new way of treating this disease. Stem cells can be obtained from multiple sources like bone marrow and other body areas. They can repair and regenerate the damaged muscle cells when they are transplanted into the patient’s body. They provide the body with muscle proteins that can restore the lost muscle functionality. Stem cells can also replenish and increase the low stem pool. These cells release cytokines that provide for damage control, growth, and regeneration and increase the supply of oxygen so that the damaged areas can be adequately vascularized.

Apart from the treatment of muscular disorders like MD, Stem cell treatment for Cerebral Palsy and other neurological disorders is also available. Premier institutions in India like NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute (NGSBI) offer this treatment through an expert team of medical practitioners at a world class stem cell therapy facility.

The author is an expert in the field of stem cell research & therapy. The writer has a flair for writing and she keeps on writing various articles and blogs related to industry.