Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

What is Congenital Muscular Dystrophy?

Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD) refers to a group of muscular dystrophies that become apparent at or near birth. Muscular dystrophies, in general, are genetic, degenerative diseases primarily affecting voluntary muscles. CMD is rare (affecting about 1 in 50,000 babies), and both males and females are equally likely to have this condition. CMD causes muscle weakness early in life – within the first six months of birth.

For more information about Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, click here. More information on MCD1A, a type of CMD, is available here.

Click here for the Congenital Muscular Dystrophy – Family Guide

Other useful resources:

• www.curecmd.org – a USA-based organisation with lots of information on the different types of CMD.

• www.mda.org – the Muscular Dystrophy Association USA website has an extensive site with plenty of further information on any muscular dystrophy conditions, as well as research news.

• www.musculardystrophyuk.org – the UK muscular dystrophy site. It contains good general information on the condition.

• NZ also has an excellent website dedicated to helping and informing those families with rare disorders – www.nzord.org.nz

For Health Care Professionals

The following academic article summarises an international consensus on best-practice care for congenital muscular dystrophies. This was published in the Journal of Child Neurology in November 2010 and can be accessed here.