Myopathic changes

Answer 1

Definition

Myopathic changes are weakness or biopsy results that suggest a muscle disorder, such as muscular dystrophy.

Symptoms

The main symptom is weakness.

Signs and tests

An electromyogram can confirm the presence of a myopathy.

Sometimes, a muscle biopsy is done. This allows a tissue sample to be examined under a microscope and may confirm a specific disease.

References

Barohn RJ. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 447.

Answer 2

Definition

Myopathic changes are weakness or biopsy results that suggest a muscle disorder, such as muscular dystrophy.

Symptoms

The main symptom is weakness.

Signs and tests

An electromyogram can confirm the presence of a myopathy.

Sometimes, a muscle biopsy is done. This allows a tissue sample to be examined under a microscope and may confirm a specific disease.

References

Barohn RJ. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 447.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 03/21/2010

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Luc Jasmin, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and Department of Anatomy at UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.