Question

An 8-year old child has difficulty walking and getting up from a squatting position. A muscle biopsy was done and is as shown in the image. Which of the following is true about this condition?

• A. Death occurs in 3rd decade
• B. Previous history of viral prodrome
• C. It is a mitochondrial storage disorder
• D. Early treatment has excellent prognosis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The condition being referred to in this problem is likely Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. This condition is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which encodes the dystrophin protein essential for muscle function.

Children with DMD often present with difficulty walking and getting up from a squatting position due to muscle weakness, particularly in the proximal muscles of the legs and pelvis.

In terms of prognosis, individuals with DMD typically live into the third decade of life. The progression of muscle weakness is relentless, and respiratory and cardiac complications often lead to death around this time.

Feature	Description
Disease	Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Symptoms	Difficulty walking, getting up from a squatting position
Biopsy	Shows muscle degeneration and fibrosis
Prognosis	Death occurs in 3rd decade

Therefore, the correct statement about the condition is: "Death occurs in 3rd decade."