Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Type; Bmd

Description

The muscular dystrophy that carries the Becker eponym is similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the distribution of muscle wasting and weakness, which is mainly proximal, but the course is more benign, with age of onset around 12 years; some patients have no symptoms until much later in life. Loss of ambulation also varies from adolescence onward, with death usually in the fourth or fifth decade. In some cases, as in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degree of mental impairment is present (Emery, 2002).As in DMD, about 5 to 10% of female carriers of this X-linked disorder show muscle weakness, and frequently enlarged calves--so-called manifesting heterozygotes. Such weakness is often asymmetric; it can develop in childhood or not become evident until adult life, and can be slowly progressive or remain static. Because weakness is essentially proximal, differentiation from limb-girdle muscular dystrophy is essential for genetic counseling. In both DMD and BMD, female carriers may develop dilated cardiomyopathy in the absence of apparent weakness (Grain et al., 2001).

Clinical Features

• Muscle weakness
• Cognitive impairment
• Skeletal muscle atrophy
• Cardiomyopathy
• Myopathy
• Behavioral abnormality
• Arrhythmia
• Hyporeflexia
• Elevated serum creatine phosphokinase
• Myalgia

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