Muscular dystrophies

Muscular dystrophies are a group of diseases characterized by loss of strength and structural lesions in skeletal muscles.

They often have a genetic origin. The distribution of weakness, its severity and its capacity for progression are highly variable depending on the particular disease.

Sometimes the symptoms are present from birth and remain stable (congenital dystrophies).

Other times, symptoms begin in childhood and follow a progressive course (e.g. Duchenne dystrophy).

Finally, some patients debut in adulthood with variable severity (e.g. facioscapulohumeral dystrophy).

Currently, the diagnosis of many muscular dystrophies is made by genetic analysis.

However, sometimes it is still necessary to perform a muscle biopsy.