Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Treatment in India
Living with DMD is fighting discomfort and pain every single day. If your child has been going through it, you are deeply concerned about the progressive muscle weakness and the limited scope of treatment. Apart from this, you could be surmising about your child’s future as an independent individual.
What if we tell you, you can say goodbyes to all your worries as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment in India uses advanced medical technology that offers effective and affordable solutions to provide your child with a pain-free active life?
One such advanced treatment is stem cell therapy, and distinctly positive results have been shown by this treatment; patients have shown improvement in muscle strength and function.
Now, let us see how this therapy can help in treating DMD.
Key Takeaways
- Learn about what is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and how it affects your child’s health.
- Understand the causes, symptoms, and how to diagnose DMD.
- Learn about the best treatments available in India to treat it and give your child a healthier and independent future.
- Know the benefits of stem cell therapy for DMD.
What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)?
DMD is a genetic disorder in which your muscles gradually weaken because of changes in a protein called dystrophin (Dystrophin is a very important protein to keep your muscle cells healthy). It is one of the most common types of muscular dystrophy.
It damages your skeletal and heart muscles and its symptoms worsen over time.
You can develop DMD in your early childhood between ages 2 and 3. It mainly affects males but in rare cases, it can affect females, too.
This happens because the DMD gene is on the X chromosome and males have only one X chromosome, so when it gets damaged, they do not have a backup. Females have two X chromosomes, so when one is damaged, the other can replace it.
What are the causes of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
DMD is caused by an abnormal gene mutation in the X chromosome. The cause of this DMD gene mutation can be spontaneous or inherited. The DMD gene is the largest gene that is responsible for the production of the dystrophin protein in your body.
Dystrophy protein helps your muscles recover from the stress caused by normal movement of your muscles. When your DMD gene gets mutated there will be little to no dystrophin production. A lack of this protein makes your muscles weak and after some time they die.
With your age, your muscles cannot replace these dead cells. Slowly the muscle fibers are replaced by fat and connective tissues.
Though DMD is usually inherited through your x chromosome, around 30% of cases happen spontaneously without a family history.
What are the risk factors of DMD?
People can inherit DMD if they have a family history of it. A child can also inherit it if their mother carries the genes of it.
Here, you need to understand that girls have XX chromosomes, and boys have XY chromosomes in most cases. Children with XX chromosomes have an equal chance of inheriting the mutated gene. However, they may not experience the severe symptoms of DMD because their other X chromosome will be fine to support them.
Now, let’s check the symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
What are the symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
You will see the symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at the early age of two to three. It can start in infancy and as the child grows you start to see the symptoms slowly.
The common symptoms of DMD are:
- Slow weakening and loss of muscle will happen in the child’s legs and pelvis. But it will be less severe in their neck, arm, and other parts
- Fatigue
- There can be an increase in the calf muscle size
- Difficulty in walking and it deteriorates with time
- Repeated fall
- Walking with toes
- Difficulty in climbing stairs
- Walk with a limp or duck-like walk
- Breathing problems and shortness of breath
- Short height
- Spine curvature
How is DMD diagnosed?
If your child’s doctor suspects DMD, they will prescribe the following tests to you:
The doctor would take a blood test of your child to check creatinine kinase. They will do it because when your muscles are damaged, they release a compound called creatinine kinase. An increase in this compound means your child may have DMD. It can be 10 to 20 times more than the normal levels of creatinine kinase.
Doctors may also use the blood test to confirm whether there is a change in your child’s dystrophin gene that causes DMD. A female child’s gene test is done to confirm whether they carry this gene.
EKG is an easy way to diagnose whether your child has a heart problem. In the case of DMD, the doctors will check the characteristic signs of DMD and your child’s heart condition. In DMD, the heart gets affected and there can be cardiac fibrosis (excess buildup of material outside the cells in the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and heart failure.
The doctors will use a needle to extract a piece of your child’s muscle from the affected area and then they will examine it under a microscope to check if it has signs of DMD.
What is the best Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Treatment in India?
There are different types of treatment options available for DMD in India. Let’s check some of the best options available:
Stem cell therapy uses stem cells to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Stem cells can turn into any type of cells in your body.
These cells can differentiate into various cell types and they can regenerate or repair damaged muscle tissues affected by DMD.
The doctors will start the procedure by harvesting stem cells that they will get either from the patient or a donor. Then the stem cells are treated in a laboratory setting to enhance their muscle-regeneration capabilities.
These cells are reintroduced into the patient’s body after that. They target the muscles most affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Experts consider stem cell therapy one of the most promising treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This therapy has some great benefits
- Stem cells are found in your body
- It can be used in every age and stage of muscular dystrophy
- It can potentially treat DMD
- It boosts muscle strength.
Exon skipping is another treatment option for DMD and its goal is to target the genetic mutation that causes DMD.
This treatment method makes the cell skip over a faulty part of the gene which is known as exon. Exon hampers the production of dystrophin protein which is important for your muscle health.
This procedure is done using synthetic molecules that can cause exon skipping. Though it is not a cure for DMD, it gives significant relief from the symptoms.
Gene therapy is another way to treat DMD. In this process, a healthy version of the mutated gene is added directly to your muscle cells. The goal of this procedure is to help the cells produce dystrophin protein.
The problem with gene therapy and exon skipping is that they are very expensive procedures.
What is the cost of DMD Treatment in India?
DMD treatment has many challenges. One of the biggest challenges is its treatment costs. However, stem cell therapy has made the treatment affordable. The cost of this therapy is 2000 USD (1,67,000 INR) per cycle.
Gene therapy cost starts from 20,36,000 USD (17,00,00,000 INR). Exon skipping cost is between 2,39,000 USD (2,00,00,000 INR) and 3,59,000 USD (3,00,00,000 INR).
What is the success rate of DMD Treatment in India?
MedicoExperts have helped many children successfully treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. More than 90% of these patients have shown significant improvement in muscle strength, mobility, hand function, stamina, body balance, and limb strength.
Takeaway
Seeing your child suffer from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is not easy for you. But thankfully, you have stem cell therapy as a solution to give your child a healthier life.
If you are planning stem cell therapy for your child, you can proceed further leaving behind all your worries as this therapy is completely safe and effective.
MedicoExperts can help your child treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in India. We will provide you with all the help you need, from travel and accommodation to treatment and aftercare.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What is the life expectancy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
People with DMD often die from the condition by the age of 25. However, stem cell therapy can not only give relief from the symptoms of DMD but also significantly enhance life expectancy.
Q2. What are Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment guidelines in India?
Indian Association of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (IAPMR) has set some clinical practice guidelines for DMD treatment in India. They have made these guidelines to standardize rehabilitation and management of the condition in India.
Q3. How common is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
The US sees the highest number of cases of DMD. It was around 16,765 cases in 2020.
Q4. What is the best treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Stem cell therapy in India is one of the best treatments for DMD. It gives significant relief from the symptoms and enhances life expectancy, too.
Q5. How long does it take to treat DMD with stem cell therapy?
Depending on the number of stem cell therapy cycles it may need 12-45 days for the treatment in India.
Q6. Should I continue the current treatment along with stem cell therapy?
You should consult the team of specialists involved if you want to continue your current treatment along with stem cell therapy for DMD. You can contact our experts for online consultation to get more information.
Q7. What are the noticeable outcomes one can achieve with stem cell therapy?
You can expect the following outcomes after stem cell therapy
- Boost in strength and your core muscle
- Better hand function
- Improved limb strength and balance
- Improvements in your walk
- Increased stamina
- Better core balance
Q8. Am I eligible for stem cell therapy for DMD?
Your child needs to be at least 2 years of age and they should have a minimum hemoglobin level of 10 grams to be eligible for stem cell therapy for DMD.
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MedicoExperts is a Global virtual hospital which is established to offer quality healthcare services at affordable pricing without compromising the success rates of the treatment.
MedicoExperts is having a network of highly experienced super specialist doctors and well equipped hospitals across the globe and offering second opinion through online video consultation and surgical interventions through its empanelled super specialist doctors at its network hospitals in 17 countries from 3 continents.
By the virtue of its approach and model, MedicoExperts is successfully achieve to deliver
- Latest and most advanced treatments with success rates of international benchmarks.
- Multiple cost options depending upon the hospital facilities, with the same doctor.
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- Trust and peace of mind.
Most suitable for patients who are looking for:-
- Planned Surgeries and treatment from most experienced doctors and at multiple cost options as per hospital facilities with best possible outcomes.
- Second Opinion from expert doctors.
- Complex cases involving multi specialities
- International patients looking for treatment from Indian doctors
Recommended Articles For You
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapy-treatment-certain-patients-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapy-treatment-certain-patients-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy
- https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/nucleic-acids/fulltext/S2162-2531(23)00278-0#:~:text=Exon%2Dskipping%20therapy%20is%20a,dystrophin%2C%20leading%20to%20progressive%20cardiomyopathy
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480531/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482346/#:~:text=A%20muscle%20biopsy%20will%20demonstrate,with%20adipose%20tissue%20and%20fat
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452302X2100365X#:~:text=Duchenne%20muscular%20dystrophy%20(DMD)%20has,cardiac%20fibrosis%20associated%20with%20DMD
- https://www.webmd.com/children/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23538-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy-dmd
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Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinically Review Board On 11 July 2024
Author Bio:
Dr. Khushbu Jain is a dedicated professional with a passion for advancing healthcare through cutting-edge treatments. She has a special interest in researching regenerative medicine and advanced treatment for diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional treatment options. Her deep understanding of these progressive treatments allows her to offer patients personalized and effective solutions for a variety of health concerns.
