muscular dystrophy: Treatment
Treatment
There is no known cure for muscular dystrophy. Corticosteriods may slow the destruction of muscle tissue in persons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and phenytoin, procainamide, or quinine is used to treat delayed muscle relaxation in myotonic muscular dystrophy. Scientists have identified genetic abnormalities responsible for multiple dystrophy, and some treatments focusing on those mutations are being explored. Exon-skipping drugs, which use RNA-splicing to allow muscle cells to produce a form of dystrophin that can function, are being studied for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and one such drug has been approved for patients with one genetic mutation. Supportive measures and exercises can improve the quality of life and preserve mobility for as long as possible. Genetic screening is recommended for all family members who might be carriers. Prenatal tests such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis can detect some forms of muscular dystrophy early in a pregnancy.
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