Muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited genetic disorders that leads to loss of muscle mass, weakening its strength and impacting mobility in patients. In this condition, the muscles progressively weaken and damage muscle fiber tissues and cells due to the lack of a muscle protein called dystrophin.

Muscular dystrophy has been classified into 9 types by the doctors.

• Duchenne
• Myotonic
• Limb-girdle
• Facioscapulohumeral
• Becker
• Oculopharyngeal
• Congenital
• Emery-Dreifuss
• Distal

Initially, a specific part of the body weakens or wastes away as due to muscular dystrophy, the body stops making muscle protein which is responsible for building muscles and keeping them strong. This is an irreversible genetic disorder that is usually noticeable in affected children in the first few years of life. Gradually, over the years, the children become weaker and lose the ability to walk, and carry objects. The disease also starts affecting the muscles of the heart and lungs causing serious cardiac and respiratory problems.

Genetic abnormalities lead to muscular dystrophy in children and one of the most prominent symptoms is muscle weakness. The main signs that indicate that your child is suffering from muscular dystrophy are –

• Difficulty in walking and standing
• Difficulty while sitting or rising from a lying position
• Trouble in breathing
• Weakness in hip, legs, and pelvis muscles
• Clumsiness or physical weakness
• Muscle stiffness and cramps
• Heart palpitations
• Sleeplessness or excessive sleeping
• Slurred Speech
• Difficulty eating and swallowing
• Behavioral problems
• Droopy eyelids
• Cognitive impairment

There are several factors responsible for the development of muscular dystrophy (MD) condition in children. These include –

• Recessive inheritance – Inheriting muscular dystrophy is possible when a child inherits mutated genes of both of the parents that cause MD.
• Dominant inheritance – In this case, the affected child inherits a mutated gene from either of the parents and develops MD.
• Sex-linked inheritance or X-linked inheritance – Genetically males, with one X and one Y chromosome, risk X-linked conditions from mutations on their single X chromosome, while genetically females, with two X chromosomes, may have milder symptoms.
• Lifestyle risk factors – Protein deficiency, underweight, and poor lung function can also lead to muscular dystrophy in children.

Doctors suggest various diagnostic tests to confirm a child is suffering from muscular dystrophy. An enzyme test is conducted where Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels are evaluated to understand whether there have been any traumatic injuries. Genetic testing is done to confirm gene mutation. Also, in some cases, heart and lung functions are monitored and a muscle biopsy is performed to see whether MD or any other muscle condition impacts the patient.

Stem cell therapy using umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal cells has shown promising results because this treatment leads to the progressive channeling of muscle proteins to the intended place.

The major advantages of stem cell treatment for muscular dystrophy are –

• Cell therapy boosts or promotes the organic regeneration of fresh cells.
• Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have anti-inflammatory action because of their secretory or paracrine function.
• Stem cells are a minimally invasive treatment compared to surgical procedures.
• These cells are myogenic progenitor cells that repair muscle protein.
• The cells strengthen the neuromuscular junction.
• The cells promote Angiogenesis or the growth of blood vessels from existing vasculature.
• The procedure is 100% safe and the benefits are long-lasting.
• The recovery time is also much faster than other treatment alternatives.

When any patient arrives at Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute for muscular dystrophy, our physicians may do a thorough physical examination and review the medical history. These are done to understand the patient’s current physical condition before proceeding with the stem cell therapy procedure.

In general, our institute has world-class stem cell experts who follow the two most common methods to execute muscle dystrophy treatment using human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCT-MSCs).

1. Intravenous administration – HUCT-MSCs are injected into the veins of the patient.
2. Intramuscular administration – HUCT-MSCs are injected directly into the muscles.

In both processes, effectiveness is equally high as the stem cells are directly introduced into the body so that they move to the targeted muscles and aid in repairing the damaged fibers and regenerating new cells to restore their function.

Positive outcomes or improvements have been observed in patients receiving stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy. Some of the major observations are –

• Improvement in muscle strength
• Improvement in mobility and gait
• Improved body balance or stability
• Enhanced motor function and capabilities like handwriting
• Reduced muscle stiffness
• Increased range of motion or movement
• Increase in muscle mass
• Reduction in tremor occurrence
• Low levels of creatine kinase
• Improved respiratory and cardiovascular function

Our commitment is to provide our patients with superior care and muscular dystrophy support with advanced therapies. We empower them to achieve sustained and long-term good health with our advanced treatment solutions.

Distinguished as one of the leading Mexican clinics offering stem cell therapy for muscular dystrophy, we take immense pride in our approach and employ cutting-edge technologies and best-quality stem cells. Stem cells are expertly administered by our highly qualified and experienced stem cell professionals. We promise to assist our patients in overcoming the symptoms of MD and reclaim a vibrant, active, and fulfilling life.

After a thorough analysis of the underlying causes of MD and the severity of the symptoms, our medical team suggests a suitable treatment protocol for stem cell therapy. This tailored treatment plan is meticulously crafted as per the patient’s needs, the cost of which is determined by various factors, including –

• Patient’s age, weight, and height.
• Past medical histories.
• The severity of the muscular dystrophy condition.
• Stem cell administration procedure
• The number of stem cells need to be administered

For detailed information regarding the cost of muscular dystrophy stem cell treatment in Mexico, we suggest you reach out to our team at the Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute.

As a premier Mexico-based treatment center of regenerative medicine for muscular dystrophy, it is the responsibility of our medical team to maintain regular communication with you even after you return home to monitor the progress of your health following the treatment. Scheduled follow-ups at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, and so on, allow us to systematically track your improvements from the symptoms of muscular dystrophy and be with you throughout your recovery journey. It is crucial for us to know how and whether your body has been able to successfully alleviate symptoms of MD.

Furthermore, these follow-up sessions also serve as a valuable source of feedback from our patients regarding our treatment, doctors, staff behavior, and therapy experience at our institute. You are free to share all types of concerns, seek advice, or ask questions that might help you accelerate the pace of recovery.