Becker muscular dystrophy

Becker's muscular dystrophy
Other names: Benign pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy[1]
X-linked recessive is the manner in which this condition is inherited
SpecialtyPediatrics, medical genetics
SymptomsMuscle weakness, muscle wasting[2]
ComplicationsCardiomyopathy[2]
Usual onset5 to 15[3]
CausesGenetic mutation[4]
Diagnostic methodSuspected based on symptoms, confirmed by lab tests, muscle biopsy, or genetic testing[3]
Differential diagnosisDuchenne muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, spinal muscular atrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy[4]
TreatmentPhysical therapy[3]
PrognosisLife expectancy 40s[3]
Frequency3 per 100,000 US males[4]

Becker muscular dystrophy is genetic disorder characterized by slowly progressing muscle weakness and muscle wasting.[2] This generally begins in the legs and pelvis, resulting in trouble walking and falling.[3] The condition generally becomes noticeable between the ages of 5 and 15.[3] Complications may include cardiomyopathy, which is the most common reason for death.[2][4]

It is caused by a mutation in the gene which encodes the protein dystrophin.[4] It is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner.[4] It is a type of dystrophinopathy.[2] The diagnosis may be suspected based on symptoms and confirmed by lab tests, muscle biopsy, or genetic testing.[3] It is less severe than Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which also results from a mutation in the dystrophin gene.[4]

There is no cure, though physical therapy may improve symptoms.[3] Corticosteroids may be used in certain cases.[4] Becker muscular dystrophy affects about 3 per 100,000 males in the United States.[4] Rates in other countries vary from 0.1 to 7 per 100,000 males.[4] Life expectancy can be in to the 40s.[2]

Signs and symptoms

Some symptoms consistent with Becker muscular dystrophy are:

Individuals with this disorder typically experience progressive muscle weakness of the leg and pelvis muscles, which is associated with a loss of muscle mass (wasting). Muscle weakness also occurs in the arms, neck, and other areas, but not as noticeably severe as in the lower half of the body. Calf muscles initially enlarge during the ages of 5-15 (an attempt by the body to compensate for loss of muscle strength), but the enlarged muscle tissue is eventually replaced by fat and connective tissue (pseudohypertrophy) as the legs become less used (with use of wheelchair).

Complications

Possible complications associated with muscular dystrophies (MD) are cardiac arrhythmias.[8] Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) also demonstrates the following:

Genetics

The disorder is inherited with an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern. The gene is located on the X chromosome. Since women have two X chromosomes, if one X chromosome has the non-working gene, the second X chromosome will have a working copy of the gene to compensate, because of this ability to compensate, women rarely develop symptoms. All dystrophinopathies are inherited in an X-linked recessive manner. The risk to the siblings of an affected individual depends upon the carrier status of the mother. Carrier females have a 50% chance of passing the DMD mutation in each pregnancy. Sons who inherit the mutation will be affected; daughters who inherit the mutation will be carriers. Men who have Becker muscular dystrophy can have children, and all their daughters are carriers, but none of the sons will inherit their father's mutation.[9][10][11]

Becker muscular dystrophy occurs in approximately 1.5 to 6 in 100,000 male births, making it much less common than Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Symptoms usually appear in men at about ages 8–25, but may sometimes begin later.[12] Genetic counseling may be advisable when potential carriers or patients want to have children. Sons of a man with Becker muscular dystrophy do not develop the disorder, but daughters will be carriers (and some carriers can experience some symptoms of muscular dystrophy), the daughters' sons may develop the disorder.[13]

Diagnosis

In terms of the diagnosis of Becker muscular dystrophy symptom development resembles that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A physical exam indicates lack of pectoral and upper arm muscles, especially when the disease is unnoticed through the early teen years. Muscle wasting begins in the legs and pelvis, then progresses to the muscles of the shoulders and neck. Calf muscle enlargement (pseudohypertrophy) is quite obvious. Among the exams/tests performed are:[14][15]

  • Muscle biopsy (removes a small piece of muscle tissue, usually from the thigh, to check for dystrophin in muscle cells.)
  • Creatine kinase test (checks the level of Creatine Kinase proteins in the blood. Creatine Kinase proteins are normally found inside of healthy muscle cells, but can be found in the blood when muscle cells are damaged.)
  • Electromyography (shows that weakness is caused by destruction of muscle tissue rather than by damage to nerves.)
  • Genetic testing (looks for deletion, duplication, or mutation of the dystrophin gene.)

Treatment

There is no known cure for Becker muscular dystrophy yet. Treatment is aimed at control of symptoms to maximize the quality of life which can be measured by specific questionnaires.[16] Activity is encouraged. Inactivity (such as bed rest) or sitting down for too long can worsen the muscle disease. Physical therapy may be helpful to maintain muscle strength. Orthopedic appliances such as braces and wheelchairs may improve mobility and self-care.[10]

Immunosuppressant steroids have been known to help slow the progression of Becker muscular dystrophy.[17] The drug prednisone contributes to an increased production of the protein utrophin which closely resembles dystrophin, the protein that is defective in BMD.[18]

The cardiac problems that occur with EDMD and myotonic muscular dystrophy may require a pacemaker.[19]

The investigational drug Debio-025 is a known inhibitor of the protein cyclophilin D, which regulates the swelling of mitochondria in response to cellular injury. Researchers decided to test the drug in mice engineered to carry MD after earlier laboratory tests showed deleting a gene that encodes cycolphilin D reduced swelling and reversed or prevented the disease’s muscle-damaging characteristics.[20] According to a review by Bushby, et al. if a primary protein is not functioning properly then maybe another protein could take its place by augmenting it. Upregulation of compensatory proteins has been done in models of transgenic mice.[21]

Prognosis

The progression of Becker muscular dystrophy is highly variable—much more so than Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There is also a form that may be considered as an intermediate between Duchenne and Becker MD (mild DMD or severe BMD). Severity of the disease may be indicated by age of the patient at the onset of the disease. One study showed that there may be two distinct patterns of progression in Becker muscular dystrophy. Onset at around age 7 to 8 years of age shows more cardiac involvement and trouble climbing stairs by age 20, if onset is around age 12, there is less cardiac involvement.[14][22]

The quality of life for patients with Becker muscular dystrophy can be impacted by the symptoms of the disorder. But with assistive devices, independence can be maintained. People affected by Becker muscular dystrophy can still maintain active lifestyles.[23]

History

Becker muscular dystrophy is named after the German doctor Peter Emil Becker who published an article about it in 1955.[24][25]

References

  1. "Becker muscular dystrophy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy". NIH.gov. NIH. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Becker muscular dystrophy | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program". rarediseases.info.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Thada, PK; Bhandari, J; Umapathi, KK (January 2020). "Becker Muscular Dystrophy". PMID 32310552. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Becker's Muscular Dystrophy information. Patient". Archived from the original on 2015-10-25. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Becker muscular dystrophy". NIH. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. Greco, Giovanni N. (2008). Tissue Engineering Research Trends. Nova Publishers. p. 89. ISBN 9781604562644. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  8. "Cardiovascular Complications Associated with Muscular Dystrophy". Archived from the original on 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  9. 1 2 "Error 403". Archived from the original on 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  10. 1 2 Becker Muscular Dystrophy~clinical at eMedicine
  11. Darras, Basil T.; Urion, David K.; Ghosh, Partha S. (1993). "Dystrophinopathies". GeneReviews®. University of Washington, Seattle. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-08-30.
  12. Mah, Jean K.; Korngut, Lawrence; Dykeman, Jonathan; Day, Lundy; Pringsheim, Tamara; Jette, Nathalie (June 2014). "A systematic review and meta-analysis on the epidemiology of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy". Neuromuscular Disorders. 24 (6): 482–491. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2014.03.008. PMID 24780148. S2CID 20687867.
  13. Grimm, Tiemo; Kress, Wolfram; Meng, Gerhard; Müller, Clemens R (December 2012). "Risk assessment and genetic counseling in families with Duchenne muscular dystrophy". Acta Myologica. 31 (3): 179–83. PMC 3631803. PMID 23620649.
  14. 1 2 "Becker muscular dystrophy | Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – an NCATS Program". Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  15. RESERVED, INSERM US14 -- ALL RIGHTS. "Orphanet: Becker muscular dystrophy". www.orpha.net. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  16. Dany, Antoine; Barbe, Coralie; Rapin, Amandine; Réveillère, Christian; Hardouin, Jean-Benoit; Morrone, Isabella; Wolak-Thierry, Aurore; Dramé, Moustapha; Calmus, Arnaud; Sacconi, Sabrina; Bassez, Guillaume; Tiffreau, Vincent; Richard, Isabelle; Gallais, Benjamin; Prigent, Hélène; Taiar, Redha; Jolly, Damien; Novella, Jean-Luc; Boyer, François Constant (4 July 2015). "Construction of a Quality of Life Questionnaire for slowly progressive neuromuscular disease". Quality of Life Research. 24 (11): 2615–2623. doi:10.1007/s11136-015-1013-8. PMID 26141500. S2CID 25834947.
  17. "Duchenne/Becker Treatment and Care | Muscular Dystrophy | NCBDDD | CDC". www.cdc.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  18. "Dystrophinopathies Treatment & Management: Medical Care, Consultations, Activity". 2017-01-07. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-04-19. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. Verhaert, David; Richards, Kathryn; Rafael-Fortney, Jill A.; Raman, Subha V. (January 2011). "Cardiac Involvement in Patients With Muscular Dystrophies". Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 4 (1): 67–76. doi:10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.110.960740. PMC 3057042. PMID 21245364.
  20. Reutenauer, J; Dorchies, O M; Patthey-Vuadens, O; Vuagniaux, G; Ruegg, U T (29 January 2009). "Investigation of Debio 025, a cyclophilin inhibitor, in the dystrophic mdx mouse, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy". British Journal of Pharmacology. 155 (4): 574–584. doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.285. PMC 2579666. PMID 18641676.
  21. Bushby, Kate; Lochmüller, Hanns; Lynn, Stephen; Straub, Volker (November 2009). "Interventions for muscular dystrophy: molecular medicines entering the clinic". The Lancet. 374 (9704): 1849–1856. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61834-1. PMID 19944865. S2CID 41929569.
  22. Delisa, Joel A; Gans, Bruce M; Walsh, Nicholas E (2005). Physical medicine and rehabilitation: Principles and practice. pp. 915–16. ISBN 978-0-7817-4130-9.
  23. "Facts | Muscular Dystrophy | NCBDDD | CDC". 2018-04-10. Archived from the original on 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  24. Becker, P. E.; Kiener, F. (1955). "Eine neue x-chromosomale Muskeldystrophie" [A new x-linked muscular dystrophy]. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten (in German). 193 (4): 427–448. doi:10.1007/BF00343141. PMID 13249581. S2CID 22284081.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  25. Becker, P.E. (1957). "Neue Ergebnisse der Genetik der Muskeldystrophien" [New results of genetics of muscular dystrophy]. Human Heredity (in German). 7 (2): 303–310. doi:10.1159/000150994. PMID 13469170.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

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