How is Muscular Dystrophy tested for?

Answer 1

In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who grew progressively weaker, lost the ability to walk, and died at an early age became more prominent in medical journals. In the following ten years, French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne gave a comprehensive account of 13 boys with the most common and severe form of the disease (which now carries his name - Duchenne muscular dystrophy). It soon became evident that the disease had more than one form, and that these diseases affected males of all ages.

Nine diseases including Duchenne, Becker, limb girdle, congenital, facioscapulohumeral, myotonic, oculopharyngeal, distal, and Emery-Dreifuss are always classified as muscular dystrophy.

Answer 2

The term "dystrophy" refers to any disease where an organ or tissue wastes away. The characteristic symptom of muscular dystrophy is that the skelatal muscles begin to waste away - hence MUSCULAR dystrophy.

Answer 3

Muscular Dystrophy is a condition where gradual muscle wastage leads to increased weakness and disability. To test for it, a blood test is carried out.

Answer 4

Limb-girdle was first desbcribed in 1876 but it was not proposed as that name until 1954 by Walton and Natrass.