Progressive muscular atrophy

Clinic

• PMA, also called Duchenne–Aran disease
• It is characterized by the degeneration of lower motor neurons, resulting in generalized, progressive loss of muscle function.
• PMA is classified among motor neuron diseases where it is thought to account for around 4% of all MND cases.
• PMA affects only the LMN, in contrast to ALS, which affects both UMN and LMN, or primary lateral sclerosis,, which affects only the upper motor neurons.
• The distinction is important because PMA is associated with a better prognosis than ALS.