Muscular dystrophy - limb-girdle type (LGMD)
Prevention
Genetic counseling may guide some families about their risks and help with family planning.
Some of the complications can be prevented with appropriate treatment. For example, a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator can significantly reduce the risk of sudden death due to an abnormal heart rhythm. Physical therapy may be able to prevent or delay contractures and improve quality of life.
Affected people may want to do DNA banking. DNA testing is recommended for those who are affected, in order to identify the family gene mutation. Once the mutation is found, prenatal DNA testing, testing for carriers, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis are possible.
Images
Review Date: 01/21/2010
Reviewed By: Chad Haldeman-Englert MD, Division of Human Genetics, Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. 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)
