MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY AND FATIGUE

Summary of the lecture delivered by Professor Dr. A.R. Wintzen of the University of Leiden at the yearly meeting organised in October 1995 by the “Werkgroep Dystrophia Myotonica” for patients and other people involved in myotonic dystrophy

Complaints of fatigue are often heard and are not particularly related to muscular diseases; with many diseases fatigue is one of the symptoms. At the same time fatigue is a normal phenomenon with healthy people. Fatigue is mentioned with and without lack of sleep, with and without preceding “fatiguing” pursuits. Often “I am tired” means “I just don’t feel like it”. In daily life the word “tired” is used for a variety of situations with few correspondence.

MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY: BEHAVIOUR AND LEARNING DIFFICULTIES WITH CHILDREN

Summary of the lecture delivered at the yearly meeting organised in October 1995 by the ?Werkgroep Dystrophia Myotonica? for patients and other people involved in myotonic dystrophy. This lecture was prepared by S. Umans, J Steyaert and D. Willekens of Stichting Klinische Genetica Limburg, Maastricht and Centrum voor Menselijke Erfelijkheid, U.Z. Gasthuisberg, Leuven.

INTRODUCTION

The authors distinguish different types of myotonic dystrophy. Depending on the age when muscle complaints and other associated symptoms make their first appearance, they distinguish:

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

Summary of the lecture by Christine E.M. De Die- Smulders MD of the University of Maastricht at the yearly meeting organised in October 1996 by the ?Werkgroep Dystrophia Myotonica? for patients and other people involved in myotonic dystrophy. This lecture was meant for the new participants of this annual meeting.
INTRODUCTION

Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) is a relatively frequently occurring, hereditary muscular disorder. Characteristic symptoms are myotonia (muscle stiffness due to muscles failing to relax properly) and slowly progressive muscle weakness, especially of the face-muscles, the throat- and neck-muscles and the muscles in the fore-arm and lower part of the legs.

HEART-AND LUNGPROBLEMS IN CASE OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

Lecture presented by Chris W. Höweler M.D. of the University of Maastricht at the yearly meeting organised in October 1997 by the “Werkgroep Myotone Dystrofie (Myotonieën)” for patients and other people involved in myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic Dystrophy (MD) is a muscle-dystrophy, which also causes disorders in other organ systems. So symptoms as cataract, irregular heart-beat, pneumonia or bowel troubles appear