Biomaterial Database

New clinical sign in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 1994

S Pradhan

Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow, India.

A new sign in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is described. The sign demonstrates a unique characteristic of this disorder: selective hypertrophy and wasting in different muscles of the same region. The patients were asked to abduct their arms to about 90 degrees with elbows flexed to 90 degrees and hands directed upwards. Those who could not abduct the arm to 90 degrees were asked to do so to the maximum that they could. In this posture, all patients had examination of pectoral girdles from behind. Some patients with spinal muscular atrophy and other forms of muscular dystrophies were also examined in the same manner. In this posture, patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy demonstrated a linear or oval depression (due to wasting) of the posterior axillary fold with hypertrophied or preserved muscles on its 2 borders (i.e., infraspinatus inferomedially and deltoid superolaterally), as if there were a valley between the 2 mounts. The sign was specific to Duchenne muscular dystrophy with sensitivity of about 90%. It was most remarkable in patients 8-11 years of age.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006984	Hypertrophy	General increase in bulk of a part or organ due to CELL ENLARGEMENT and accumulation of FLUIDS AND SECRETIONS, not due to tumor formation, nor to an increase in the number of cells (HYPERPLASIA).	Hypertrophies
D008297	Male		Males
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009133	Muscular Atrophy	Derangement in size and number of muscle fibers occurring with aging, reduction in blood supply, or following immobilization, prolonged weightlessness, malnutrition, and particularly in denervation.	Atrophy, Muscle,Neurogenic Muscular Atrophy,Neurotrophic Muscular Atrophy,Atrophies, Muscle,Atrophies, Muscular,Atrophies, Neurogenic Muscular,Atrophies, Neurotrophic Muscular,Atrophy, Muscular,Atrophy, Neurogenic Muscular,Atrophy, Neurotrophic Muscular,Muscle Atrophies,Muscle Atrophy,Muscular Atrophies,Muscular Atrophies, Neurogenic,Muscular Atrophies, Neurotrophic,Muscular Atrophy, Neurogenic,Muscular Atrophy, Neurotrophic,Neurogenic Muscular Atrophies,Neurotrophic Muscular Atrophies
D009136	Muscular Dystrophies	A heterogeneous group of inherited MYOPATHIES, characterized by wasting and weakness of the SKELETAL MUSCLE. They are categorized by the sites of MUSCLE WEAKNESS; AGE OF ONSET; and INHERITANCE PATTERNS.	Muscular Dystrophy,Myodystrophica,Myodystrophy,Dystrophies, Muscular,Dystrophy, Muscular,Myodystrophicas,Myodystrophies
D009460	Neurologic Examination	Assessment of sensory and motor responses and reflexes that is used to determine impairment of the nervous system.	Examination, Neurologic,Neurological Examination,Examination, Neurological,Examinations, Neurologic,Examinations, Neurological,Neurologic Examinations,Neurological Examinations
D011187	Posture	The position or physical attitude of the body.	Postures
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002872	Chromosome Deletion	Actual loss of portion of a chromosome.	Monosomy, Partial,Partial Monosomy,Deletion, Chromosome,Deletions, Chromosome,Monosomies, Partial,Partial Monosomies