Progressive Muscular Atrophy

Progressive muscular atrophy is an inherited disorder affecting the nerves that control muscle activity in the body (motor neuron disease).

Progressive muscular atrophy
Primary lateral sclerosis and progressive pseudobulbar palsy
Diagnosis ...

Progressive Muscular Atrophy.--This is a chronic disease characterized by slow and insidious weakness and wasting of groups of muscles due to disease of the anterior spinal grey matter.

Progressive Muscular Atrophy see Motor Neurone disease
Progressive Non-fluent Aphasia see Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, including Frontotemporal Dementia
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Prolactinoma see Pituitary Disorders ...

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA), Progressive Bulbar Palsy (PBP) and Progressive Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) are all types of MND.

In progressive muscular atrophy and related syndromes (see MUSCULAR ATROPHY, SPINAL) the motor neurons in the spinal cord are primarily affected.

hereditary motor neuronopathy
progressive muscular atrophy
SMA
See How are genetic conditions and genes named? in the Handbook.

Common MNDs include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, and progressive muscular atrophy.

Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA). This is an uncommon form of MND. The small muscles of the hands and feet are usually first affected, but the muscles are not stiff.
Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). This is a rare type of MND.

The progression of this condition is slower than that of the presentations described above. Progressive muscular atrophy can occur at any age, including in childhood. People may survive 25 years or more with this condition.

caused by unknown factors, although scientists think environmental toxins or viruses could act as disease triggers. Nonhereditary MND include ALS, progressive bulbar palsy, pseudobulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, ...

See also: Muscular atrophy, Atrophy, Sclerosis, Lateral Sclerosis, Palsy