Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

A new disease profile is added to our database – Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). FSHD is defined by a specific set of symptoms that collectively characterize the disease. Its major symptom is the progressive weakening and loss of skeletal muscles. The usual location of these weaknesses at onset is the origin of the name: face (facio), shoulder girdle (scapulo) and upper arms (humeral). Early weaknesses of the muscles of the eye (open and close) and mouth (smile, pucker, whistle) are distinctive for FSHD. Involvement of muscles of the foot, hip girdle, and abdomen is common. Although the progression of FSHD is quite variable, it is usually slow. With FSHD, most affected people develop unbalanced weaknesses. The reason for this asymmetry is unknown. An accepted estimate of the occurrence of FSHD in the general population is 1 in 20 000. To receive a full description of this rare disease absolutely free of charge, please click here and send us a request. The profile was written by our consultant in neurology – Dr. Pavel Balabanov, MD