Type
|
Age at onset
|
Symptoms, rate of progression, and life expectancy
|
Becker
|
Teen to early adulthood
|
Symptoms are almost the same as Duchenne, but less severe. It progresses more slowly than Duchenne. Survival goes into middle age. Becker disease is almost always limited to males. This is the same as with Duchenne.
|
Congenital
|
Birth
|
Symptoms include general muscle weakness and possible joint deformities. The disease progresses slowly. It causes a shortened life span.
|
Duchenne
|
Ages 2 to 6
|
Symptoms include general muscle weakness and wasting. It affects the pelvis, upper arms, and upper legs. Over time, it includes all voluntary muscles. Survival beyond the 20s is rare. It happens mostly in boys. Very rarely it can affect women, who have much milder symptoms and a better prognosis.
|
Distal
|
Ages 40 to 60
|
Symptoms include weakness and wasting of muscles of the hands, forearms, and lower legs. Progression is slow. It rarely leads to total disability.
|
Emery-Dreifuss
|
Childhood to early teens
|
Symptoms include weakness and wasting of shoulder, upper arm, and shin muscles. Joint deformities are common. progression is slow. Sudden death may occur from cardiac problems.
|
Facioscapulohumeral
|
Childhood to early adults
|
Symptoms include facial muscle weakness and weakness with some wasting of shoulders and upper arms. Progression is slow with periods of rapid deterioration. Life span may be many decades after onset.
|
Limb-Girdle
|
Late childhood to middle age
|
Symptoms include weakness and wasting, affecting shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle first. Progression is slow. Death is usually due to cardiopulmonary complications.
|
Myotonic
|
Ages 20 to 40
|
Symptoms include weakness of all muscle groups and delayed relaxation of muscles after contraction. It affects the face, feet, hands, and neck first. Progression is slow, sometimes spanning 50 to 60 years. An infantile form causes more severe problems.
|
Oculopharyngeal
|
Ages 40 to 70
|
Symptoms affect muscles of eyelids and throat causing weakening of throat muscles. Over time, this causes inability to swallow and severe weight loss from lack of food. Progression is slow.
|