Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited muscle diseases characterised by progressive weakening and/or loss of muscle fibres without the involvement of the nervous system. Affected muscles are eventually replaced by fat and connective tissues.
There are many forms of muscular dystrophies, classified by the patient’s age at onset, parts of the body affected, the progression of the disease, and the mode of inheritance.
Some examples of muscular dystrophies include Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy (most common form), Becker muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy.
Clinical diagnosis is based on family history of muscle disease and detailed physical examination.
To definitively diagnose Muscular dystrophy, analytic tests such as electromyography and muscle biopsy are performed. Electromyography is a technique used to record electrical activity of a muscle while muscle biopsy screens for associated markers.
There is currently no cure for muscular dystrophies. However, treatments such as physiotherapy, medications, surgery and assistive devices are available to alleviate the disease.
References:
"Muscular dystrophy" Concise Medical Dictionary. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 20 December 2007.
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=Muscular+dystrophy. Accessed 20 December 2007.