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Becker Muscular Dystrophy

Background

Becker Muscular Dystrophy: Becker MD

Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD), one of the muscular dystrophies, is a rare genetic condition described in 1955 by Becker and Kiener. Like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, it is a muscular dystrophy associated with mutations (changes) in the dystrophin gene. An individual needs a range of proteins surrounding muscle fibres to ensure their efficient working. In BMD, a reduction of dystrophin leads to the effects seen in the condition. In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), there is a virtually complete absence of dystrophin while individuals with BMD have some detectable dystrophin. As a result, BMD is seen as a milder form of DMD.

As a sex-linked disorder, BMD largely affects males and its onset generally comes to medical attention in adolescence or early in adulthood but may present in childhood or middle age. It is thought to affect 1 in 30,000 males. Life expectancy may be reduced but many affected people live into their seventies or eighties.

What are the symptoms? View What are the symptoms?

Medical text written August 2004 by Contact a Family. Approved August 2004 by Professor A Clark, Professor in Medical Genetics and Hon. Consultant in Medical Genetics, Institute of Medical Genetics, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.

 

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