Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (Landouzy-Dejerine)

Table of Contents

Definition

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue.

See also: Muscular dystrophy


Alternative Names

Landouzy-Dejerine muscular dystrophy


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy affects the upper body, unlike Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Becker muscular dystrophy, which affect the lower body.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder. It appears in both men and women and may develop in a child if either parent carries the gene for the disorder.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy affects approximately 5 out of 100,000 people. It affects men and women equally.



Review Date: 03/09/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)