becker muscular dystrophy
A teenage boy with Becker muscular dystrophy uses a walker to move down a school hallway.
Noun: A form of muscular dystrophy that begins in adolescence or adulthood, progresses slowly, and eventually affects all voluntary muscles. It is characterized by generalized weakness and muscle wasting, typically starting in the limb and trunk muscles. It is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy but less severe. Its inheritance pattern is X-linked recessive, meaning the gene is carried by females but the condition primarily affects males.
The term is used in medical and clinical contexts to describe this specific neuromuscular disorder. * The diagnosis confirmed it was Becker muscular dystrophy, not the more severe Duchenne type. * Research into gene therapy offers hope for individuals with Becker muscular dystrophy.
- The term is often abbreviated as BMD in medical notes and literature.
- It is frequently discussed in contrast to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) due to their similar genetic cause but differing severity and age of onset.
- Muscular Dystrophy (n): The broader category of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles.
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (n): A more severe form of muscular dystrophy with an earlier onset, closely related to BMD.
- X-linked Recessive (adj): Describing the inheritance pattern where the gene responsible is located on the X chromosome.
- Benign Pseudohypertrophic Muscular Dystrophy (an older, less common term).
- Limb-girdle weakness: A common clinical feature describing where the initial muscle weakness often occurs (hips and shoulders).
- Cardiomyopathy: A serious potential complication of BMD, involving weakening of the heart muscle.
A teenage boy with Becker muscular dystrophy uses a walker to move down a school hallway.
- a form of muscular dystrophy that sets in in adolescence or adulthood and progresses slowly but will affect all voluntary muscles; characterized by generalized weakness and muscle wasting that affects limb and trunk muscles first; similar to Duchenne's muscular dystrophy but less severe; inheritance is X-linked recessive (carried by females but affecting only males)