What is Becker Muscular dystrophy?

Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is very similar, although milder, to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a slow progressive disease that predominantly affects males. Becker and Kiener initially described Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) (also known as Benign pseudohypertrophic Muscular Dystrophy )in 1956.

Becker muscular dystrophy is a disorder characterized by slowly progressive muscle weakness of the legs and Pelvis generally slowly progressive and affects only males. Although characterised by the loss of muscle cells, the size of certain muscles, such as the calves may appear to increase as the muscle fibres are replaced by fat and connective tissue.

A diagnosis is generally made in the early teens although symptoms may be present as early as in childhood. Muscle cramps are an early symptom of BMD. Affected individuals may have had difficulty in learning how to walk as a toddler. Later symptoms include difficulty in walking, running, climbing stairs and lifting heavy objects.

The disorder is inherited with an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern -- the gene is located on the X chromosome.

Since women have two X chromosomes, if one X chromosome has the defective gene, the second X chromosome will have a working copy of the gene to compensate. In these cases, some women have much milder symptoms because of this ability to compensate.

Men have an X and a Y and because they don't have another X to compensate for the defective gene, they will develop symptoms if they inherit the defective gene.

See these videos I found on You Tube.

Muscular Dystrophy the mysterious disease

Dr. Maurice Swanson talks about what muscular dystrophy is and how it affects the body.

Histopathology Muscle, skeletal--Muscular dystrophy

This shows how muscle tissue is affected -covers Duchene & Becker Muscular Dystrophy

More to be added !

Cllick here to Link to the Muscular Dytsrophy Campaigns page on Becker .

Click here to link to the MDA’s article on Becker.