Marta Plejić

By Radenka Kuzmanić Šamija and Marta Plejić

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are dystrophinopathies, a group of muscular dystrophies caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common muscular dystrophy that occurs in children. A mutation in the DMD gene leads to a loss of expression of the dystrophin protein, a subsarcolemmal protein that provides strength, stability, and functionality to the myofibrils. Patients with dystrophinopathies with basic progressive weakness of the musculoskeletal system develop complications of many organ systems that significantly contribute to the deterioration of the clinical condition and shorter life expectancy. Multidisciplinary care has extended the patients’ life expectancy and the development of subspecialist branches has enabled the improvement of diagnostic methods and treatment. Recently, therapeutic options in the treatment of DMD have advanced significantly, and new genetic and molecular therapies are emerging. The advent of gene therapy as a causal therapy for DMD has placed additional emphasis on diagnosing and treating the disease as early as possible. This achieves an additional prolongation of life expectancy, increases the quality of life in patients with DMD, and provides hope for patients and their families.

Part of the book: Advances in Skeletal Muscle Health and Disease