The immune system is normally our front-line defense against infection. But when the immune system mistakenly sees healthy cells as the enemy, serious diseases result. Correct diagnosis is the key to optimal treatment of neuromuscular diseases. An expert describes the challenges that MDA clinicians face in diagnosis, and the techniques they use to reach the right answers. The Brain in DMD The protein deficiency that causes muscle wasting in Duchenne may also lead to specific learning disabilities.
Early recognition helps teachers and families develop the right educational approach.
See also Joseph's IEP . Setting the Record Straight on Scoliosis Surgery New techniques and careful timing of surgery can result in great benefits for people with a variety of neuromuscular diseases. Desperate Remedies Heart transplants for people with muscular dystrophy were unheard of just a few years ago, but today they're saving lives. Fight Against Contractures Physical medicine and physical therapy offer an array of techniques to delay and diminish muscle contractures. Steroids in MD Corticosteroids like prednisone are a topic of debate among doctors who treat muscular dystrophy.