- Genetic disorder causing degeneration of muscles
- Multiple variants of MD
- Myotonic dystrophy can present later in life
- May have family members with similar problems
- Highly variable symptoms and progression
- Often presents in childhood, with progressive weakness and wasting; though can present later in life
- Some variants cause only muscle aches with activity (Limb-Girdle MD)
- Can affect cardiac muscle, causing heart failure and/or dysrhythmias
- SOB, cough, dysphagia if muscles of respiration, swallowing affected; also risk for aspiration, nutritional deficiency
- Sometimes cognitive decline w/myotonic dystrophy
- Muscle wasting, atrophy
- Loss of reflexes
- Frontal balding, early cataracts w/myotonic dystrophy