Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Paper

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) was first recognized in the 1890’s by a French Neurologist named Guillaume Duchenne. He studied cases of 13 young boys who had muscle weakness. He followed these boys from hospital to hospital continuing to study them. After performing muscle biopsies he confirmed that the weakness was from a muscle disorder, rather than neurological. He named the disorder of muscle weakening muscular dystrophy, his name was added later on. DMD is muscular disorder that causes progressive weakening of muscles. It is one of nine types of Muscular dystrophies, it is the most common, most fatal, and progresses the fastest. It is genetic through a mutated gene on the X chromosome, it is passed through the Mother. In many cases it happens when there is not any known family history of the disorder.

As a result, muscle cells are very weak and fragile. DMD occurs primarily in boys but can occur in girls (very rare), and can occur in any race. Symptoms occur in very early childhood, usually before 6 years old. Some signs and symptoms are clumsiness, delayed motor skills, trouble climbing stairs, trouble running, trouble maintaining balance, and enlarged calves. Intellectual disabilities are possible but are not always present, and they do not get worse over time. The muscles of the hips, pelvis, thighs, and shoulders are usually affected first. During the teenage years the child is usually wheelchair dependent due to the muscles being unstable. The heart and lungs are also affected by the mid-teens. As a result, breathing disorders and an enlarged heart