Stem Cell Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy in Delhi, India

Stem Cell Treatment for Muscular Dystrophy in Delhi, India

Muscular dystrophy describes a group of inherited genetic disorders that progressively weaken the muscles responsible for voluntary movements; in some cases, the disease also affects the heart, lungs, and other internal organs. At the root of muscle dystrophy are genetic mutations that limit the body from producing critical proteins required to maintain healthy muscle structure and strength. Children born with muscular dystrophy may initially develop at the same rate as their peers; however, as they become older, they may experience symptoms such as frequent falls, challenges with walking, foot drop, or clumsiness.

There are nine primary types of muscular dystrophy: myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle, facioscapulohumeral, congenital, oculopharyngeal, distal, and Emery-Dreifuss. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most prevalent and most severe type, affecting approximately 1 in 3,300 male births. Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is less severe and affects around 1 in 18,000 male births. Congenital muscular dystrophy may develop at birth; other types of muscular dystrophy, like facioscapulohumeral or myotonic dystrophy, may develop later in life.

Beyond losing the ability to walk, sit, or lift things, those with muscular dystrophy will experience complications related to breathing and cardiac function regarding the more severe forms of muscular dystrophy. Clinics such as Cell Cure India provide a stem cell-based solution that focuses on appreciation in muscle strength while also slowing down the progression of the disease.

Symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy

In muscular dystrophy, the muscles do not work right. A genetic abnormality in muscular dystrophy prevents the body from making a protein responsible for filling out the muscles or maintaining their strength. The muscular dystrophies are more separate than simply a characterization of muscle weakness or muscular paralysis. Different types of muscular dystrophy will have their own unique symptoms; however, some of the more common positive symptoms are:

• Difficulty standing
• Difficulty with rising from a lying or sitting position
• Trouble with breathing
• Trouble learning to sit independently, then walk independently
• Muscle weakness, beginning in the hips, pelvis, and legs
• Clumsiness, beginning with often falling down
• Trouble climbing stairs
• Unsteady, waddling gait
• Larger-than-normal calves, sometimes painful
• Breathing problems, possibly leading to the eventual need for a ventilator
• Walking on toes, or balls of feet
• Learning disabilities or behavioral issues.
• Curvature of the spine (scoliosis) causing one hip to be higher than the other.

Types of Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of more than 30 genetic disorders that produce weakness that worsens over time. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common and severe type of MD and affects mostly children assigned male at birth. DMD symptoms typically start in early childhood, with progressive weakness and impacts to the heart and lungs. Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is a later-onset, milder form of MD, starting between the ages of 5 and 60, with muscle weakness responsible for symptoms beginning usually in adolescence.

The most common type of MD that presents in adults is myotonic dystrophy, which affects women and men equally. Myotonic dystrophy patients have difficulty relaxing their muscles after use (e.g., they may shake a person’s hand and not let go). Myotonic dystrophy may also affect the heart, lungs, or thyroid or lead to diabetes complications. CMD is present at birth and is associated with a generalized weakness, stiffness, or/and looseness in joints. CMD can also cause seizures, vision problems, scoliosis, or learning challenges.

Other forms of MD include distal muscular dystrophy, which usually affects the hands, feet, and legs in later adulthood; Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), which begins in childhood and causes weakness of shoulders and arms or problems with the heart; and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), which seldom occurs after age 20 but impacts the muscles of the face, shoulders, and upper arms. Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD) is less common and usually starts in the 40s or 50s, leading to problems with swallowing.

Causes of Muscular Dystrophy

There are many causes of muscular dystrophy; the major causes include:

• Familial inheritance of the disorder.
• Gene mutation via spontaneity.
• Intimate relation affected (X-linked) disease.
• Gender- and age-related epidemics
• Environmental Factors
• Protein Deficiency

The above are only the major causes among known causes of muscular dystrophy; this is still being studied, and it is likely that more major causes will eventually be discovered.

Diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a type of progressive eye disease that typically is asymptomatic in its early manifestations. AMD can make early detection difficult, and because patients have often already lost their sight by the time they realize they have the disease, having an annual eye exam is important. Early detection of AMD means the disease can be treated before the eyesight is significantly affected, helping patients maintain some vision for however long they can.

There are several different tests that will be conducted during an annual eye examination that can monitor patients for AMD. A visual field test measures a patient’s panoramic field of vision, sensitivity, and blind spots. A dilated eye exam means that eye drops are put in the eyes to dilate the pupil, allowing a doctor to examine the retina and macula as clearly as possible, using an ophthalmoscope. Fluorescein angiography involves the injection of yellow dye into the arm. This dye travels through the blood vessels as images are being taken through a special camera, so any abnormalities or leaking under the macula can be seen. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) takes detailed and non-invasive scans of the retina and macula for the purpose of detecting the slightest variations in structure.

AMD, when measured regularly, can be diagnosed and monitored early and successfully, which will lessen the risk of serious sight loss.

Treatment of Muscular Dystrophy

Recent research has shown MSCs can help repair and regenerate nerve cells to reduce symptoms and extend lifespan.Steroids and other disease-modifying drugs cannot address all of the symptoms and are only meant for the management of a single symptom.Again, the concern of critical side effects of drugs is also evident, but this is not the case with MSC treatment.

FAQs

1. What is muscular dystrophy, and who does it affect?

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited genetic disorders that result in progressive muscle weakness, usually affecting voluntary muscles, and in some types, the heart and lungs. Onset can occur at birth, in childhood, or in adulthood, depending on the specific type of muscular dystrophy.

2. How does stem cell therapy help in muscular dystrophy?

Stem cell therapy has the potential to repair or regenerate damaged muscle and nerve tissue, improving muscle strength, reducing symptoms, and slowing disease progression (unlike conventional drugs that treat the management of isolated conditions).

3. Is there stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy in Delhi?

Yes, there are clinics, such as Cell Cure India in Delhi, that are providing stem cell-based treatment programs under the management of experienced medical teams. These clinics allow patients of muscular dystrophy to improve their quality of life.

4. Can stem cell therapy replace standard treatment for muscular dystrophy?

No, stem cell therapy adds to standard health care (such as physiotherapy, steroid use, or supportive breathing apparatus). Stem cell therapy will not take the place of standard management of day-to-day symptoms but will provide value-added benefits since it treats degeneration.